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Spring is in the air, and you’ll want to add Arbor Day to your activity calendar for April. This holiday was first observed in 1872 and is meant to encourage people to plant and care for trees. Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April, so this year it falls on April 27.
I know your residents will enjoy these activities. Please share your ideas in the comment section, too!
Plant a tree
If you can’t plant a tree outdoors, go ahead and plant one indoors in a large pot. A few varieties that do well indoors are the jade tree, Norfolk island pine, dwarf banana tree, and weeping fig. Then your residents can care for their tree and watch it gradually grow over the years.
Watch a movie
Check out It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown. Many of your residents will remember this classic movie.
Share a poem about trees
What Do We Plant by Henry Abbey
Trees by Joyce Kilmer
The Beech Tree by Rose Fyleman
Trees by Harry Behn
Make a snack
Did you ever think about how many of our favorite foods come from trees? The options for tree-based snacks are endless.
Think about fruits such as apples, oranges, peaches, bananas, or cherries. Then there are nuts like almonds, pecans, and cashews. Of course, maple syrup and coconuts also come from trees. Invite your residents to brainstorm and create their own snacks using products that come from trees.
For a beverage, you might want to serve root beer. Did you know it was originally made from the root of the sassafras tree? Today other flavorings are typically used, but you can still celebrate the tree-based history of root beer!
Enjoy a book
If the weather is nice, go for a walk and identify the types of trees you see. Bring along a good guidebook such as a Peterson Field Guide. (Separate books are available depending on where you live.)
Invite children to join your residents and read a book about trees together. These are a few favorites:
- The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward
- We Planted A Tree by Diane Muldrow
- Our Tree Named Steve by Alan Zweibel
- A Grand Old Tree by Mary Newell Depalma
- Oliver’s Tree by Kit Chase
Listen to classic songs about trees
Do your residents remember the times in their lives when they listened to these songs? Did any of them see the performers who made these songs famous?
Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree (Tony Orlando & Dawn)
Lemon Tree (Peter, Paul, and Mary)
As Long As There’s An Apple Tree (Dionne Warwick)
The Sweetheart Tree (Johnny Mathis)
So Tall A Tree (Bing Crosby)
Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree (Andrews Sisters)
A Tree Too Weak To Stand (Gordon Lightfoot)
Strike up a conversation
- Share these 8 important benefits of trees.
- Discuss products that are made from trees.
- Share fun facts about trees.
How do you plan to celebrate Arbor Day? I would love to hear your suggestions!
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