Arbor Week
Arbor Week is a 120 year old tradition of promoting tree planting in schools and other community facilities, and involves thousands of students across Victoria. It is a way of getting schools and their local community involved in all the processes of planning and implementing a tree planting project. The first Arbor Day was held on 10 April 1872 in Nebraska, USA, when one million trees were planted. In Australia the first Arbor Day was held on June 20 1889 in the Adelaide parklands with nearly 3500 children participating in the ceremony.
In Victoria, Arbor Day became an important part of the school year. It occurred in June with such activities as tree-plantings, special lessons, and lectures from visiting speakers and involvement with the larger community. By the late 1950's Arbor Day was no longer observed as a special occasion. Consequently Arbor Day disappeared from the school calendar and with it an important area of the curriculum which was the practical application of environmental awareness.
Paul Crowe at the Arbor Week
launch, Melbourne Museum 2007
The Arbor Day concept was revived in the form of Arbor Week in 1982 by Paul Crowe OAM, the former Principal of the State Schools' Nursery (which later became known as the Victorian Schools Nursery). The week became celebration of classroom work on the environment, outdoor activities, including tree planting with various community, local government and statutory authorities. It continues on as an important annual environmental event.
The Natural Resources Conservation League annually invites schools and community groups to submit applications for grants to undertake local activities aimed at increasing students' input into improving and maintaining their local environment. The council coordinating Arbor Week in Victoria consists of The Natural Resources Conservation League, Parks Victoria, Melbourne Museum Cranbourne Botanical Gardens, the State Department of Education and Early Chilhood Development and the Department of Sustainability. Other supporters of Arbor Week include regional Catchment Management Authorities, local councils and land-care and friends groups.
In 2007 the Natural Resources Conservation League received 161 submissions for grants for Arbor Week and was pleased to award funding of up to $28,000 to 24 projects.
NATURAL RESOURCES
CONSERVATION LEAGUE
'Hands-on' Environment Discovery Centre Warburton Waterwheel
OPEN DAILY
3400 Warburton Hwy, Warburton, VIC, 3799
P O Box 577, Warburton
(03) 5966 5822
