Congratulations to the Winners of the Go Green Youth Challenge!

The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance is proud to announce the winners of this year’s Go Green Youth Challenge!  This year’s program featured two very different components, but had one unified message – celebrating the benefits of trees.

The original Go Green Youth Challenge was a fundraising contest.  Teams collected money in any way they could think of in order to raise funds to plant trees in Michigan.  This year, through school participation and sponsorships, this program raised over $16,824 to fund tree plantings.

Congratulations to the Grand Prize winner of the Go Green Youth Challenge fundraiser – the Smith Middle School Ecology Club from Troy.  Together they raised $250!

The 2013 Challenge was different because the program also included a Creative Writing Contest.  Students K-12 were invited to submit a short piece of writing expressing what trees meant to them.  We had a total of 479 contest entries from across the state!  Congratulations to the top entries and Thank You to everyone who participated.

Grand Prize Winner – Nathaniel C. from Bloomfield Twp.

K-4th

First – Mattye T. from Beverly Hills

Second – Anna R. from Northville

Third – Sophia W. from Beverly Hills

5th-8th

First – Julianna K. from Oakland

Second – Jessica R. from Perry

Third – Kayla D. from St. Johns

9th-12th

First – Jordon M. from Brooklyn

Second – Ellen Z. from Troy

Third – Zach C. from Northville

We hope you enjoyed this year’s contest.  Be on the lookout next spring for another chance to participate!

Thank You for making Michigan greener

Celebrate Arbor Day this Friday!

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

 

Contact Information:                                               Phone:  (517) 543-5848 x 5

Jennifer Hunnell                                                                Email:  miarborday@gmail.com

Michigan Arbor Day Alliance                  Website:   http://www.miarbordayalliance.com

551 Courthouse Dr., Ste. 3 Charlotte, MI 48813                               Sent:   4-23-13

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: On or after 4-22-13

Celebrate Arbor Day Every Day

 

MICHIGAN –The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance (MADA) encourages you to join us in celebrating Arbor Day this year.  On Friday, April 26, 2013 MADA will be hosting the 20^th State Arbor Day Celebration for over 1,100 second and third grade mid-Michigan students at Potter Park in Lansing.  Volunteers from several organizations will spend the day teaching students about water, wildlife, soil, and of course, trees.

“Planting a tree is a simple way to make a lasting impression.  The benefits from that single tree will be felt for generations,” says MADA Program Coordinator Jennifer Hunnell and encourages you to celebrate Arbor Day in your own way.  You could plant a tree, volunteer, recycle, use reusable grocery bags, read a nature-themed book to a classroom, visit a local park, or organize a community beautification project or clean-up effort.  Several Michigan communities are also hosting their own Arbor Day Celebrations.  Find an event in your area on our website, www.miarbordayalliance.com and check out the Community Calendar.

The first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska on April 10, 1872.  J. Sterling Morton, a pioneer and journalist championed the idea of a “tree planting” holiday in the Nebraska Territory.  In 1885, the Michigan Legislature resolved “that the Governor is hereby requested to call the attention of the people of the state to the importance of planting trees for ornament and by naming a day upon which the work shall be given special attention to be known as Arbor Day.” Each year the Governor and Michigan Legislature proclaim the last week in April as Arbor Week and Arbor Day as the last Friday of that week.

 

The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance is a coalition of organizations and agencies dedicated to the promotion and celebration of Arbor Day throughout Michigan.  The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance is a program of the Eaton Conservation District in Charlotte, MI and is made possible through a partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

New Grand Prize for Creative Writing Contest!

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

 

 

Contact Information:                                                                                              

Jennifer Hunnell

Michigan Arbor Day Alliance

551 Courthouse Dr., Ste. 3 Charlotte, MI 48813

Phone:  (517) 543-5848 x 5

Email:  miarborday@gmail.com

Website:   http://www.miarbordayalliance.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: On or after 2-19-13

 

New Grand Prize for Creative Writing Contest

 

CHARLOTTE, MI – The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance (MADA) has announced today that they will be adding a new prize to their Go Green Youth Challenge Creative Writing Contest.  In addition to the first, second and third prizes for each age category, there will also be one overall Grand Prize of a Samsung Galaxy Tablet.

The Creative Writing Contest is open to all Michigan K-12^th grade students.  Public, private, charter and homeschooled students are all eligible to participate.  The writing contest will have an environmental theme each year, this year’s theme being “What Do Trees Mean to You?”  Students can submit any type of creative writing (i.e. essay, short story, poem, etc.) fewer than 300 words, and remember originality and imagination count!

This contest runs alongside the Go Green Youth Challenge fundraising program, where students raise money to plant trees across Michigan.  Both contests have a deadline of April 1, 2013.  For full program rules and details, please visit www.miarbordayalliance.com and look under the Go Green Youth Challenge and Creative Writing Contest tabs.

The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance’s Go Green Youth Challenge engages Michigan youth in environmental stewardship, community development and service-learning through a statewide effort to plant trees in Michigan.

MADA is a coalition of organizations and agencies dedicated to the promotion and celebration of Arbor Day throughout Michigan.  Our dedication comes from our belief in the importance of trees and their role in community health and well-being.  Since 1993, MADA has provided educational programs and services to Michigan communities.

This is the 20^th Anniversary of the MADA program.  We encourage you to celebrate with us and Go Green in 2013!

 

MADA is a program of the Eaton Conservation District

Lansing Board of Water and Light Supports 2013 Go Green Youth Challenge

Lansing Board of Water and Light Supports

Go Green Youth Challenge

 Michigan Arbor Day Alliance initiative raises awareness for the trees

 

 LANSING, Mich., February 7, 2013 – Michigan Arbor Day Alliance announced today that the Lansing Board of Water and Light (BWL) is stepping up to contribute $5,000 to support its Go Green Youth Challenge program.

 The Go Green Youth Challenge will engage Michigan youth in environmental stewardship, community development and service-learning through a statewide effort to plant trees in Michigan. Children, pre-K through 12^th grade, are challenged to collect coins, as an individual, classroom or club, from Jan. 14 – April 1, 2013.  The coins collected will directly fund community tree plantings.

“We are pleased to support an initiative that emphasizes community outreach and youth participation, especially one with such a long-term impact.  Trees are an investment in our future,” said Alan Carroll, Principal Engineer for the BWL.

“This is a great boost to the Go Green Youth Challenge.  We are excited to partner again with the Board of Water and Light to raise awareness about the importance of trees and involving youth in that conversation,” said Jennifer Hunnell, Michigan Arbor Day Alliance Program Coordinator.

The team that raises the most for the Go Green Youth Challenge will be awarded a tree planting in their community and an invitation to the State Arbor Day Celebration on April 26 at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing.

In addition to the coin collection program, there will also be a Creative Writing Contest in the 2013 initiative.  K-12 students are urged to utilize their imagination and tell us “What Do Trees Mean To You?”  The contest will run alongside the coin collection.  Details and rules can be found at www.miarbordayalliance.com/creative-writing-contest.

For more information or to sign up for the Go Green Youth Challenge, contact Michigan Arbor Day Alliance at gogreenyouthchallenge@gmail.com or visit www.miarbordayalliance.com.

 

The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance is a program of the Eaton Conservation District.

Make Your Go Green Youth Challenge Collection a Success!

We want your Go Green Youth Challenge to be a success.  The greatest tip we can offer is don’t be afraid to customize your fundraising campaign.  Think of ways your community likes to get involved in projects and incorporate that into your efforts.  We have come up with tips we think will help you run a successful campaign.

• Talk about why trees are important.  Ask yourself, friends, parents, teachers and anyone else you can think of the following questions: Why do we need trees?  What do trees provide for humans? Do trees provide different services for wildlife, insects, birds, etc?  Explore the world-wide web for information about trees. Or click here for information about trees.
• Challenge yourself to set a goal.  You will have more success if your goal is realistic and achievable.
• Brainstorm who you can team up with.  Perhaps your classroom, school, youth group, business, friends and family, etc.
• Spread the word.  Let people know about your efforts to raise money for trees. You can send letters, put up flyers, call people, email, whatever it takes to get the word out.
• Think about how you can raise money – get Creative!  Ask friends and family for donations. Hold a garage or bake sale.  Collect pop cans from neighbors.  Power off electronics at home and donate the money saved.
• Talk about where in your community trees are needed…….schools, neighborhoods, parks, etc.
• Contact a local professional to learn about trees in your area.  Your local city or town might even have an urban forester on staff.
• Get excited and motivated!  Decorate a collection jar, make a banner or anything else you can think of to kick off your campaign.

Hopefully, these tips will get you started and thinking of ways to run a successful Go Green Youth Challenge.  The sky is the limit.  All it takes is a little creativity and you will be on your way.  Don’t forget we want to hear how you did.  Send your photos, drawings, or letters to gogreenyouthchallenge@gmail.com.

** Modified and Re-posted from January 11, 2011 **

ITC Michigan Supports Go Green Youth Challenge

ITC Supports Go Green Youth Challenge

Michigan Arbor Day Alliance initiative raises awareness for the trees

LANSING, Mich., Jan. 14, 2013 – Michigan Arbor Day Alliance announced today that ITC  is contributing $10,000 to support its Go Green Youth Challenge initiative.

The Go Green Youth Challenge will engage Michigan youth in environmental stewardship, community development and service-learning through a statewide effort to plant trees in Michigan. Children, pre-K through 12^th grade, are challenged to collect coins, as an individual, classroom or club, from Jan. 14 – April 1, 2013.  The coins collected will directly fund community tree plantings.

“ITC is pleased to lend our support to worthwhile causes, including this one to support Michigan Arbor Day Alliance,” said Gregory Ioanidis, president of ITC Michigan. “We are proud to contribute to positive change throughout the region through public and private partnerships, especially those that engage youth and support environmental stewardship.”

“This is a great boost to the Go Green Youth Challenge.  We are excited to partner again with ITC to raise awareness about the importance of trees and involving youth in that conversation,” said Jennifer Hunnell, Michigan Arbor Day Alliance Program Coordinator.

The team that raises the most for the Go Green Youth Challenge will be awarded a tree planting in their community and an invitation to the State Arbor Day Celebration on April 26 at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing.

In addition to the coin collection program, there will also be a Creative Writing Contest included in the 2013 initiative.  K-12 students are urged to utilize their imagination and tell us “What Do Trees Mean To You?”  The contest will run alongside the coin collection.  Details and rules can be found at www.miarbordayalliance.com/creative-writing-contest.

For more information or to sign up for the “Go Green Youth Challenge,” contact Michigan Arbor Day Alliance at gogreenyouthchallenge@gmail.com or visit www.miarbordayalliance.com.

The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance is a program of the Eaton Conservation District.

 

ABOUT ITC MICHIGAN

In Michigan, operating entities ITCTransmission and Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC (METC) serve most of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

ABOUT ITCTRANSMISSION:

International Transmission Company (d/b/a ITCTransmission) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp., the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company. Based in Novi, Michigan, ITCTransmission owns, operates and maintains approximately 2,800 circuit miles of transmission lines in southeast Michigan, serving a population of 5.1 million.

ABOUT METC:

Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC (METC) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp., the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company. Based in Novi, Michigan, METC owns, operates and maintains approximately 5,500 circuit miles of transmission lines in the western and northern portions of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, serving 4.9 million people.

The Go Green Youth Challenge Begins Again!

PRESS RELEASE

Contact Information:

Jennifer Hunnell
Michigan Arbor Day Alliance
551 Courthouse Dr., Ste. 3 Charlotte, MI 48813

 

 Phone:  (517) 543-5848 ext.5

Website: www.miarbordayalliance.com

Email: miarborday@gmail.com

 

Sent: 12-17-12

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: On or after 12-17-12

Writing Contest Added to Go Green Youth Challenge

The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance’s Go Green Youth Challenge engages Michigan youth in environmental stewardship, community development and service-learning through a statewide effort to plant trees in Michigan. Children, pre-K through 12th grade, are challenged to collect coins, as an individual, classroom or club. All money collected directly funds community tree plantings across Michigan. Next year, the Go Green Youth Challenge runs from January 14 until April 1, 2013.

New to the program is our Creative Writing Contest. This contest runs alongside the youth coin collection. All K-12 students are eligible to submit a creative writing piece of any type and tell us “What Do Trees Mean To You?” Prizes are available to students for both the fundraiser and the writing contest. You can even win trees for your community or school. Program details and rules can be found on our website at www.miarbordayalliance.com/creative-writing-contest.

Since the beginning of the program, Michigan’s youth have helped plant over 600 trees in 12 different communities across our beautiful state! We invite you to join the cause and Go Green in 2013!

The 2012 Go Green Youth Challenge raised a total of $15,470 for tree planting in Michigan. We would like to thank everyone who participated including our sponsors:  ITC, Lansing Board of Water and Light, Glenn Buege Chevrolet of Eaton Rapids, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Eaton Conservation District and Michigan State University Federal Credit Union.

The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance (MADA) is a coalition of organizations and agencies dedicated to the promotion and celebration of Arbor Day throughout Michigan. Our dedication comes from our belief in the importance of trees and their role in community health and well-being. Since 1993, MADA has provided educational programs and services to Michigan communities.

 

MADA is a program of the Eaton Conservation District.

– END –

More Trees for East Lansing!

PRESS RELEASE  

 

Contact Information:                                                                                               

Jennifer Hunnell                                                        Phone:  (517) 543-5848 x 5

Michigan Arbor Day Alliance                               Email:  miarborday@gmail.com

Eaton Conservation District                                  Website:   http://www.miarbordayalliance.com

551 Courthouse Dr., Ste. 3 Charlotte, MI 48813                           Sent:   10-19-12

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: On or after 10-19-12

 

East Lansing Goes Green…Again

EAST LANSING – In some ways the second 2012 tree planting sponsored by Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) was vastly different from the first, but the message remained the same – MSUFCU supports green initiatives in Mid-Michigan.  A cold and rainy day greeted the volunteers who came out to Harrison Meadows Park in East Lansing.  Volunteers from the City of East Lansing and MSU’s chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha had come out to help plant 200 conifer seedlings.  The trees planted this day were significantly smaller than the hardwood trees which were planted earlier this year in May, only 12-14” tall.  The three species of evergreens (White Spruce, Norway Spruce, and White Pine) were planted in the hopes of re-establishing a tree line in the park that was lost due to underground pipeline construction.  Volunteers worked incredibly hard, the packed clay in some areas making the planting difficult.  In a few years, hopefully their efforts pay off in the form of a majestic stand of conifers adding to the beauty of this green space.

This planting was made possible by the generous contributions from MSUFCU.  $2,000 was donated this spring from MSUFCU’s Go Green Challenge program to plant trees in East Lansing.  After the spring planting had been completed, it was decided that a second fall planting would take place in order to best utilize their donation.  This is the second year of the partnership between MSUFCU and the Michigan Arbor Day Alliance.  The trees added on October 7^th bring the number of trees we have planted in East Lansing up to 480!  We once again thank MSUFCU and the City of East Lansing for supporting the continuation of tree plantings in Mid-Michigan.

The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance (MADA) is a coalition of organizations and agencies dedicated to the promotion and celebration of Arbor Day throughout Michigan.  Our dedication comes from our belief in the importance of trees and their role in community health and well-being.  Since 1993, MADA has provided educational programs and services to Michigan communities.

MADA is a program of the Eaton Conservation District and is made possible through support from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Volunteers from MSU’s chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha

Wendy Wilmers-Longpre (City of East Lansing) with her children while retired forester Mike Vasievich teaches the kids about the trees they were planting

Reduce Risk to Your Backyard Birds

Here at the Michigan Arbor Day Alliance we spend most of our time promoting the planting and maintaining of trees, especially in urban and suburban environments.  Though when you make your backyard habitat more favorable by planting trees, you also attract a wide range of wildlife to your yard.  This is a good thing.  There are many positives that come with having wildlife in so close a proximity to your home.  However, that nearness can also cause problems for you and your animal friends.

One of the most common of these is bird strikes on windows.  No one likes to go outside and find a bird dead on the ground because it hit one of the windows on your house.  But there are a few ways to avoid this scenario.  The article below, published by the National Wildlife Federation, gives homeowners tips on how.  Some are simple, some are more complex, but they should help to reduce the risk to your backyard birds.    And, contrary to popular belief, those fancy bird decals don’t make the list.

How to Steer Birds Clear of Windows

Experts offer tips for homeowners who want to minimize the number of bird-window strikes at their houses

07-16-2010 // NWF Staff

Window collisions with low-level structures like houses account for between 100 million and 1 billion bird fatalities in the United States each year, according to Daniel Klem, a professor at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. His research has also shown that these collisions—which involve both migrant and resident species—occur during all seasons, all times of day and with windows facing any direction.

Many people don’t even notice the birds dying beneath their picture windows. “Birds that are injured or dead will be scavenged a majority of the time,” says Michael Mesure, program director for the Fatal Light Awareness Program, a Toronto-based group that documents and raises awareness about the problem. “Birds that fly away can also later die of their injuries. Many times they have broken beaks, which makes foraging impossible, or they die from a brain hemorrhage.”

The long-term solution is to design glass that is less reflective, says Mesure. But in the short-term, he and other experts offer some advice for homeowners who want to minimize the number of bird-window strikes at their houses.

Make sure birds are not flying at full speed when they hit.

Many times window strikes occur after a scare from the neighbor’s cat or a hawk scatters the birds at a feeder in all directions. House plants hanging on the inside or vegetation reflecting from the outside may mislead a hapless bird into thinking the area is a passage to safety. But if feeders, baths and other bird attractants are placed three feet or less from the window, no matter how fast the bird takes off, if it hits the window it will bounce to the ground, dazed but alive.

• Tip: To help a bird while it recovers place a colander over the bird and weight it down so that it can’t be tipped over by a predator.

Cover windows with netting during peak migration seasons

If it’s not possible to remove or relocate bird perches and feeders, home owners can cover windows with netting, especially during peak migration periods. “Soccer-grade netting is best but it must be stretched taut so that birds don’t get caught,” says Mesure. “If they collide it will act like a trampoline and bounce them to safety.”

• Tip: An old storm-window screen hung outside the window will also work well.
• Tip: Decals of falcons, owls or spiderwebs on windows rarely work. “When effective the decals become impractical, as they’d have to cover 80 percent of the glass,” says Mesure. When using silhouettes, he recommends hanging them by chain or rope from an overhang so that they will stand out more by blowing in the wind.

Try interior coverings such as blinds and curtains

If you live in a high rise, this works well to warn birds on nighttime flights. For residential home owners, this will only make a difference when the sun is shining directly on the window.

Consider placing a few dead branches in front of a problem window

The branches will reflect, but they’ll also slow the bird down a bit.

• Tip: Planting a shade tree or some shrubbery close to the window will serve the same purpose, as will an awning.

Hang streamers of shiny, reflective plastic ribbon or strips of black garbage bags in front of problem windows

“Anything that glitters and moves in the breeze will help prevent a bird from colliding with a window,” says Mesure.

Let windows get a little grimy

“Don’t clean them” says Mesure. “The dirtier the window, the less reflection and the more birds will see it as a solid object.”

The Importance of the Outdoors

Nature Necessity

Time.  It’s a small word for a very big issue in many of our lives – mainly not having enough.  Time outside?  That’s even more difficult.  With the increasing number of organized activities, deadlines, and the growing competition of technology, it is becoming harder for families to carve out even small amounts of time for nature.  However, if the experts are to be believed, time outside has never been more crucial.

Let’s take a moment and look at some scary numbers:

• American children ages 3-12 spend 27% of their time each week watching television and only 1% outdoors. (Hofferth & Sadberg, 2001)
• Children ages 8-18 engage in over seven hours of media time each day (e.g., watching tv, listening to music, using the internet/computer, playing video games). (Foehr & Roberts, 2010)
• Children are spending half as much time outside as they did 20 years ago. (Juster, F. Thomas et al., 2004)
• In one generation, the percentage of people who reported that the outdoors was the most influential environment of their childhood dropped from 96% to 46%. (Rachel Sebba, 1991)

Why should we reverse this trend? – Because the cost of doing nothing is high.  The shift to more inside, sedentary, activities has been shown to cause attention difficulties, hyperactivity, childhood obesity, diminished senses, and a disconnect from reality.

A relationship to the natural world can remedy problems in both body and mind.

• Outdoor play increases fitness levels, raises Vitamin D levels, and improves distance vision.
• Exposure to natural settings has been shown to reduce stress, increase creativity, and enhance social interactions.
• Schools with environmental education programs score higher on tests in math, reading, writing, and critical thinking.  In addition, students have higher GPAs and cause fewer classroom disruptions.

Given the big picture, getting outside seems a simple solution.  If we wish for future generations to care about the land and its resources, nature connections must be made early, made often, and must be maintained.

Kids participating in a game at the No Child Left Inside Day of Play at the Capital (Lansing, MI)

Learning outside at Arbor Day 2012 (Potter Park Zoo, Lansing, MI)