COUNTY — The Union County Board of County Commissioners welcomed young poets from across the region to share their award-winning Arbor Day poems on Thursday as part of an ongoing slate of eco-awareness activities that will be held throughout the spring and summer seasons.
The Commissioner Board’s annual poetry contest, which is held in collaboration with the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board, is open to students in grades 4 to 8. The purpose of the contest, Commissioner Chair Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded said, is to teach students to “embrace environmental stewardship and advocate for tree conservation.”
“Recognizing our students’ dedication to the environment through poetry showcases their thoughtful connection to nature,” said Commissioner Palmieri-Mouded. “Congratulations to all students for their efforts, and a special congratulations to the winners for their outstanding achievement. Your words encourage us all to protect our precious environment.”
Several young writers from local elementary schools — including Westfield elementary-school students Arjun Verma and Ty Rios and Scotch Plains students Aidan Katz, Olivia Shamrakov, Sloane Potocek and Giovanna Flecca — were among this year’s winners.
“The Arbor Day Poetry Contest encourages students to explore the importance of trees in our ecosystem through poetry,” said Commissioner James Baker, the Commissioner Board liaison to the Shade Tree Advisory Board. “By nurturing their creativity and environmental awareness, we equip them with the knowledge needed to become protectors of the environment.”
Arbor Day, a secular holiday that encourages people to plant trees and celebrate nature, was first observed by a rural community in Nebraska in 1872. Arbor Day celebrations continued to grow in popularity at the local level across the nation until President Richard Nixon declared it a national holiday in 1970. And while some states celebrate Arbor Day at different times of the year to ensure that seedlings have a chance to thrive, the national observance always falls on the last Friday in April.
In addition to its usual host of ecofriendly activities (like Wild Earth Fest, a family-friendly event that will connect visitors to wildlife this coming Saturday at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside and the Native Plant Sale and Swap that will be held at the Watchung Reservation in June), the county has launched a new grant program aimed at further enriching the impact of garden- based education initiatives.
According to information provided by the county, the STEM Educational Growth Grant is an extension of the Plant-A-Seed Program that will offer additional resources to 2024 awardees to develop educational programming in agriculture, food science, nutrition and sustainability.
“Building upon the success of our previous grant programs, which have supported a total of 83 school and community garden projects, we have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of garden-based education,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados, chairman of the Union County Open Space Trust Fund. “Not only have these grants helped our students and residents cultivate healthy habits, but they have also strengthened bonds within our communities, bringing neighbors closer together through shared experiences and a shared commitment to sustainability.”
Applications for the STEM Educational Growth Grant are due by Monday, June 10, 2024. To access the application and learn more about the grant program, visit the official website at www.ucnj.org/stem-educational- growth-grant/.
For a full list of upcoming community events, plant sales and gardening workshops, visit https://ucnj.org/ green-connection/.
