Each year, the last Friday in April is set aside to celebrate Arbor Day and call attention to the important role trees play in our lives, our communities and our state. This year, Arbor Day is this Friday. Events are planned in Boise and across the state to celebrate with free seedlings available.
The first Arbor Day was held in 1872 in Nebraska. Today, Arbor Day is celebrated in all 50 states and many other countries.
Idaho’s official 2025 Arbor Day celebration will be held at the Idaho State Museum this Friday. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. Mountain Time.
All Idahoans are invited to join local, state and federal partners for an inspirational, in-person and experiential event. Free seedlings, refreshments, informational booths, presentations, and a ceremonial tree planting in Boise’s Julia Davis Park.
“Idaho is our uniquely beautiful home and trees are state’s great renewable resource, sustainably managed for the future,” said Jennifer Okerlund Frederickson, Idaho Forest Products Commission (IFPC) Director. “This Arbor Day, we hope you will look to Idaho’s forests for all the things they contribute to where we live and our way of life.”
Celebrate Arbor Day across Idaho. Many locations statewide are assisting IFPC with making free seedlings available to the public. Some are hosting special events. Visit: https://www.idahoforests.org/content-item/tree-seedlings/ for a complete list of dissemination locations and special events.
We encourage you to celebrate Arbor Day in individual ways using IFPC’s online resources at idahoforests.org. Here’s how:
- Plant a tree. IFPC is making blue spruce seedlings to the public across Idaho. (https://www.idahoforests.org/content-item/tree-seedlings/)
- Celebrate an existing tree in your yard or neighborhood. Visit your tree often and learn everything you can about it.
- Purchase a commemorative shirt or cap on the IFPC website.
- Visit the IFPC Learning at Home page to get free resources, lessons, activities, printables and much more!
- Learn about Idaho trees!
“From the trees in our back yard and in our local and state parks, to the private, state and federal forests that cover 40 percent of our state — trees and forests make our lives in Idaho better,” said Okerlund.
In Idaho, Forest Management Works!
Working forests provide local jobs to nearly 30,000 Idahoans and bring over $2.8 billion to our state’s economy.
“Trees are harvested to improve forest health, reduce fire risk or make the wood and paper products we all use,” said Okerlund Frederickson. It’s this management that makes our forests sustainable for future generations. For every tree harvested, seven more are growing for the future.”
For more information about Arbor Day and Idaho’s forests, visit www.idahoforests.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @idahoforests for ongoing resources and information.
