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April 24, 2019
Media Advisory – Arbor Day Story Idea
DNR and Bob Ross Inc. to partner on Happy Little Trees
tree-planting program in state parks
Volunteer park stewardship activities – seed gathering from native plants, cutting and removing invasive plants, cleaning up overgrown natural areas, and many other efforts – have long been key to managing the forested areas within Michigan state parks. This year, the state parks system’s centennial anniversary year, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Bob Ross Inc. are announcing an exciting new partnership and component to that stewardship program.
People around the world are familiar with the work and personality of Bob Ross, the American painter, art instructor and television host who in the ’80s and ’90s shared his love for painting and the environment with millions of viewers on the public television show, “The Joy of Painting.” Ross was known for demonstrating seemingly simple brushstrokes that brought gorgeous landscapes – full of happy little trees – to life on the canvas.
Inspired by the state parks centennial, the DNR and Bob Ross Inc. are partnering on Happy Little Trees by renaming the state’s “prison grow” program in which prisoners who’ve been successful in the Department of Corrections career and technical education program get the opportunity to learn horticulture practices and help raise trees for use in reforestation efforts, including plantings at state parks. The program takes local native seeds, collected by volunteers, and those seeds are used to raise similar genotype trees grown specifically for replanting at state parks in the same region – that's important because replacement trees with similar genetics are much more likely to survive and thrive.
“The Bob Ross Company is thrilled to partner with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to ensure every happy tree in Michigan state parks has a friend through the Happy Little Trees program,” said Sarah Strohl, an executive assistant at Bob Ross Inc. “Like Bob often said, ‘There’s nothing wrong with making friends with nature.’”
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1,000+ trees to be planted at 21 state parks
Though it’s too soon to finalize planting dates, the DNR has selected planting locations. The first planting will take place at Warren Dunes State Park (Berrien County) after May 19. Parks in the Lower Peninsula will receive trees in May; parks in the Upper Peninsula will get trees in June. In all, more than 1,000 trees are set to be distributed and planted at the following state parks and recreation areas (listed by region):
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Huron Ecoregion: Lakeport, Port Crescent, Sanilac and Sleeper
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Battle Creek Outwash Plain: Fort Custer and Yankee Springs
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Allegan Ecoregion: Warren Dunes
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Cadillac Ecoregion: Mitchell and Wilson
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Manistee Ecoregion: Ludington, Mears, Orchard Beach and Silver Lake
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Escanaba Ecoregion: Fayette, Indian Lake, Palms Brook and Wells
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Luce/Dickinson Ecoregion: Laughing Whitefish, Muskallonge Lake, Tahquamenon Falls and Wagner Falls
Volunteer opportunities at all planting locations
Help will be needed at all locations, and all volunteers will receive a Happy Little Trees T-shirt (sample design attached). People interested in volunteering and other information about supporting the program are encouraged to sign up by visiting the state parks centennial website, Michigan.gov/StateParks100; the Happy Little Trees information will be under the website's "Give Forward" section by 5 p.m. Thursday, April 25.
Happy Little Trees signs at state parks
Three participating state parks – Orchard Beach, Port Crescent and Yankee Springs – are schedule to have commemorative “Happy Little Trees Ahead” signs, featuring Bob Ross’s likeness (sample design attached), placed at the parks. Other participating parks will have the opportunity to display the signs, too.
/Note to editors: For more information about the DNR/Happy Little Trees partnership, contact Michelle Coss, 517-881-5884. For more information on the legacy of artist Bob Ross and other programs available through Bob Ross Inc., contact Sarah Strohl via email at info@bobross.com.
Accompanying images are available below for download./
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