Governor Martin O’Malley announced the Marylanders Plant Trees 2010 School Challenge on Feb. 25, encouraging students and teachers to participate in the State’s citizen tree planting program on behalf of their schools. Under the program in 2009 citizens planted and registered more than 41,000 trees, and the State planted 204,000 trees through the Department of Public Safety and Corrections Forest Brigade and State Highway projects.  

”Every citizen who planted a tree this year ? whether that tree was registered through our program or not ? made an important contribution to our air, our water and our future,” said Governor O’Malley. “This spring, I am challenging our young people to do their part in helping create a smarter, greener, more sustainable future by coordinating plantings on behalf of their schools.” 

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff officially kicked off the challenge at the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education conference in Flintsone, Md. last weekend, and has already distributed materials to more than 2,200 Maryland teachers to help them include the program and its earthly benefits into their lesson plans. 

The challenge runs through April 30, 2010. Trees planted at any time between April 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010 may be counted toward a school’s goal. The schools with the most trees planted will be named to the School Challenge Honor Roll, and the grand prize winner will enjoy a DNR Field Day, which will be held on the winning school campus in the fall of 2010.  

“With all of the snow we’ve had over the past few weeks, we hope our students will be excited to work with their teachers, friends, families and communities to plan for planting in April,” said Governor O’Malley. 

In cooperation with participating nurseries, the program continues to offer $25 coupons toward the purchase of native trees costing $50 or more, redeemable at nearly 70 nurseries across the State. 

Governor O’Malley and DNR encourage Marylanders to register every tree they plant. Not only will they be eligible for prizes, but they will be able to see the environmental benefits of their trees through interactive maps and charts.

For more information, a list of prizes, and to register a tree, go to http://www.trees.maryland.gov/index.asp. 

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