Trees For Kids grant applications are available online for schools and communities to involve youth in planting trees this spring. The grants pay up to $5,000 for landscape trees and mulch for schools, communities and other public areas.
Trees may be planted in either spring or fall. The deadline for submitting a spring application is March 1, 2017. Each planting project is required to have an educational component for the youth.
Studies show trees planted around schools and in neighborhoods give youth increased levels of concentration, lower levels of aggression, lower levels of obesity and fewer symptoms of ADHD.
“Communities are generally made more livable by having a healthy, diverse tree canopy,” says Iowa Department of Natural Resources Trees For Kids coordinator Laura Wagner.
Trees for Kids also offers no-cost seedlings packets, consisting of 200 bare-root tree and shrub seedlings, to schools and communities to plant and distribute to students, staff and community members. Order forms may be downloaded by clicking on the Trees For Kids Earth Month Celebration link at www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Forestry/Urban-Forestry. Orders must be submitted by April 1, 2017 for spring delivery.
The Trees for Kids and Trees for Teens grant program is funded by Iowa Department of Natural Resources Forestry Bureau, MidAmerican Energy, Black Hills Energy, Alliant Energy, Iowa Bankers Association, Trees Forever, Iowa Tree Farm Committee and the Iowa Woodland Owners Association.
Information on how to apply for a spring Trees For Kids grant, or receive Earth Day Celebration seedlings is available online at www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Forestry/Urban-Forestry or by contacting Wagner at laura.wagner@dnr.iowa.gov.