DEC Announces Capital Region Arbor Day Poster Contest Winner

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 4 Director Keith Goertz today announced the winner of the Capital Region's 9th Annual Arbor Day Poster Contest for 5th graders - Emma Padalino from Miller Hill-Sand Lake Elementary School in Averill Park, Rensselaer County.

The theme for 2018's contest was "Trees for Bees." Fifth grade students from across the state were asked to create an original poster depicting this theme for the statewide contest.

"Emma's exceptional artwork captures the importance of bees and their invaluable role in sustaining and propagating our shared ecosystem," Goertz said.

Emma's winning submission will be sent to Albany to be judged with other student winners selected from each of DEC's nine regions. Winning artwork from the statewide contest will be used as the official 2018 New York State Arbor Day Poster and distributed at schools, libraries, government offices, nursery and landscaping businesses, and environmental organizations statewide.

The poster selected to represent Region 4 in the statewide contest is chosen each year by Capital Region New York ReLeaf, a group of volunteers from the region's community of forest professionals, not-for-profit groups, and government organizations interested in the benefits of urban forests.

DEC Region 4 encourages schools and clubs to participate in the 2019 Arbor Day poster contest, which will start in the fall, by contacting Mary Martin at (518) 402-9428 or arborday@dec.ny.gov. Contest themes are announced in September and will be available on DEC's website. Capital Region teachers, schools and clubs that wish to participate in the 2019 Arbor Day contest should visit DEC's website for more information or email Mary Martin at arborday@dec.ny.gov to be added to an email list for updates.

For more information about the contest rules, please visit DEC's website. To receive past Arbor Day posters, contact your local DEC forestry office at (518) 357-2155 or (518) 402-9428.