Arbor Day Student Photo Contest

Arbor Day is all about trees. In Idaho, Arbor Day is the last Friday in April. It’s a celebration  dedicated to tree planting and appreciating the role this renewable resource plays in our daily lives. To celebrate Arbor Day, the Idaho Forest Products Commission sponsors a photo contest. The competition is open to all Idaho students in 5th – 12th grades.  

This year’s theme is Seasons of Change: The Dynamics of Idaho’s Forests

Discover and showcase the breathtaking transformations of Idaho’s forests and urban tree settings through the changing seasons. From the frosted branches of winter to the vibrant greens of spring, this theme celebrates the beauty and rhythm of nature. Participants are encouraged to capture moments that highlight how forests change with the seasons and from active management which seeks to maintain the health and vibrancy of these landscapes.

What is Active Forest Management?

Active forest management involves deliberate actions taken by foresters, conservationists, and land managers to maintain healthy, resilient forests. These practices support forest ecosystems while reducing risks such as wildfires and disease. Active management ensures that forests remain vibrant for wildlife, recreation, and future generations. In urban settings, practices like pruning, planting, and maintaining urban trees mirror forest management efforts, contributing to healthy urban forests that clean air, cool cities, and create habitats.

Key Practices of Active Management

1. Thinning Trees:
   • Removing some trees allows the remaining ones to grow stronger by reducing competition for sunlight, water, and nutrients.
   • Thinning also decreases the amount of dry material that fuels wildfires.
2. Prescribed Burns:
   • Controlled fires clear out underbrush and dead materials that build up on the forest floor.
   • These burns mimic natural processes that help many tree species thrive.
3. Replanting and Restoration:
   • Planting native tree species in areas affected by deforestation, wildfire, or urban development helps restore ecosystems.
   • Replanted areas grow into future forests that provide homes for wildlife and clean air for everyone.
4. Habitat Enhancement:
   • Creating wildlife corridors and leaving fallen logs or brush piles supports biodiversity.

These actions ensure that humans, plants, and animals can thrive together in a balanced environment—even in urban green spaces.

Why Active Management Matters

• Prevents Wildfires: Managed forests are less likely to experience devastating wildfires.
• Promotes Growth: By clearing old or diseased trees, forests can regenerate and grow healthier.
• Supports Wildlife: Management ensures forests provide food, shelter, and migration paths for animals.
• Preserves Recreation: Trails, campsites, and scenic areas remain accessible and safe for outdoor enthusiasts.

What to Look for in the Forest

When you’re out capturing photos for the contest, keep an eye out for signs of active management:

• Open spaces in dense forests created by thinning.
• Evidence of recent prescribed burns, such as blackened ground but healthy standing trees.
• Rows of young trees planted in restoration areas.
• Cleared trails or wildlife-friendly features like small ponds or brush piles.
• Urban trees lining streets or beautifying local parks.

Give Us Your Best Shot!

To enter the contest, you’ll need three important things:

1. Wonderful photo(s) (up to two)
2. Caption for each photo (just a few words or a sentence)
3. A brief photographer’s statement  that describes what Seasons of Change: The Dynamics of Idaho’s Forests  means to you and how your photo relates to the theme.

To get started,

• Focus on contrast: Show areas where management has visibly improved the forest, like a healthy grove near a cleared section.
• Highlight regrowth: Capture new saplings or plants thriving in areas where intervention occurred.
• Feature wildlife: If possible, include animals enjoying habitats supported by active management.
• Use seasonal changes: Show how management impacts forests differently in spring, summer, fall, and winter
  • Urban Forest Category
    • Winter: Snow-dusted branches in your local park or icy patterns on a street-side tree.
    • Spring: Budding leaves on urban trees, the vibrant greens of forests awakening, or the first signs of blossoms near your neighborhood.
• Or  Visit a managed forest near you:
  • Pine Street Woods (Sandpoint): Known for its working forest
  • Ponderosa State Park (McCall) and Bogus Basin (Boise): A great spot to see thinning in action.
  • Explore nearby green spaces, tree-lined streets, or community parks.

Categories and Judging

Divisions
5th-6th grades
7th-8th grades
9th-10th grades
11th-12th grades

A panel of judges will select a First Place winner for each division. Honorable Mentions may be awarded. Entries will be judged on composition, technique and the use of light, overall impact and originality, as well as expression of the theme, Seasons of Change: The Dynamics of Idaho’s Forests. The caption and photographer’s statement will be considered in the judging. All decisions of the judges are final.

Prizes

First Place winners are awarded $50 each. Photos are shared on social media and on an Idaho Forest Products Commission web pages and at Arbor Day events.  

Entrant Agreement and Use of Images

By submitting an entry, entrants agree that this is an original image taken by the entrant and consent to unlimited use of the image by the Idaho Forest Products Commission (IFPC). Entrants grant IFPC the right to publish their name, school, and city in print or other media in connection with the photo contest. Photographs are shared on social media, on the IFPC website and at Arbor Day Celebrations.

Submission Requirements

• The contest theme is Seasons of Change: The Dynamics of Idaho’s Forests  
• Photo must have been taken by the student.
• Photo must have been taken in Idaho.
• Entry must include a Caption.
• Entry must include a Photographer’s Statement (up to 50 words) sharing your interpretation of how your photo relates to the contest theme, Seasons of Change: The Dynamics of Idaho’s Forests.
• Submissions may be made by the teacher, the student or the student’s parent. Every entry must be associated with a teacher/school. If homeschooled, indicate that in the entry form’s “School” field.
• Resolution: At least 300 dpi. Maximum file size: 6 megabytes.
• Save the photo with your first and last name as the title (i.e. janedoe1.jpg).
• Submit photo in JPEG or PNG format.
• Complete the entry form, including the caption and photographer’s statement, and upload your photo(s). Up to two (2) entries per person.

Entry deadline is APRIL 7, 2025.