National Arbor Day Foundation
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The Arbor Day Foundation is the world's oldest and largest tree-planting organization.[1] The foundation began in 1972 with a mission "to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees". The Foundation is supported by donations, selling trees and merchandise, and by corporate sponsors. The Arbor Day Holiday was founded more than 120 years ago in Nebraska City, Nebraska, by J. Sterling Morton.
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[edit] Programs
The Foundation encourages communities across the nation to become Tree City USAs by meeting four standards:
- The community must have a tree board or department.
- The community must have established on ordinance for tree care.
- There must be a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita.
- The community must have an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
The Nature Explore program (briefly called Kids Explore Club) is a program designed to help educators, parents, and caregivers connect young children with nature. The program has grown steadily to provide activities and projects for preschool through third grade as well as give educators an opportunity to build and certify a Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom using safe, durable, natural components. Children experience enhanced learning and development as they are provided a daily connection with nature in Nature Explore Classrooms at early childhood education centers, elementary schools, and other public spaces across the country.
