The city of Vancouver celebrates Arbor Day on the second Wednesday of April each year
Vancouver welcomes Arbor Month in April, with an Arbor Day recognition of dedicated Mac Award volunteers, at-home tree activities for the whole family, and self-guided tree tours throughout the community.
![During Arbor Day, Vancouver’s Urban Forestry Commission will present the annual Gordon and Sylvia MacWilliams Evergreen Award (Mac Award) to local youth empowerment group, the Urban Youth Program, led by Johnie Tucker. Photo courtesy of city of Vancouver](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Clark-County-Today-2019_-JTucker_and_Edgar.jpg)
The city of Vancouver celebrates Arbor Day on the second Wednesday of April each year. Though this year’s Arbor Day celebration will be slightly different than in past years due to continued pandemic precautions, there will continue to be ample opportunities to celebrate trees throughout the month of April.
During Arbor Day, Vancouver’s Urban Forestry Commission will present the annual Gordon and Sylvia MacWilliams Evergreen Award (Mac Award) to local youth empowerment group, the Urban Youth Program, led by Johnie Tucker. The Mac Award honors these longtime, dedicated volunteers who have contributed significantly to Vancouver’s urban forest and natural areas, planting and nurturing trees for the next generation.
This Arbor Day, Vancouver will be recognized as a Tree City USA for the 32nd consecutive year. Awards will also be given to Clark Public Utilities, recognized as a Tree Line USA utility; and to Clark College and Washington State University Vancouver, recognized with Tree Campus USA awards. Though there won’t be an on-site public Arbor Day celebration in 2021, representatives of the Urban Youth Program and Forestry Commission will plant a tree at the Fort Vancouver Community Library in Vancouver in keeping with the city’s annual tradition.
![The Mac Award honors these longtime, dedicated volunteers who have contributed significantly to Vancouver’s urban forest and natural areas, planting and nurturing trees for the next generation. Photo courtesy of city of Vancouver](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Clark-County-Today-Yearspast_PlantingwUrbanYouth.jpg)
The community is encouraged to celebrate Arbor Month with self-guided tours of trees across Vancouver. For the entire month, visitors to Homestead Park and Father Blanchet Park will find pop-up arboretums – temporary, informational signs posted on select trees throughout these parks. From April 10 through April 18, informational posters will be placed at select Heritage Trees and Heritage Groves across the city. Learn more about these events and locations online at www.cityofvancouver.us/urbanforestry.
More ways to celebrate Arbor Month are by planting a tree at home and by exploring Urban Forestry’s online activities and educational opportunities for all ages, available on the Urban Forestry webpage at www.cityofvancouver.us/urbanforestry.
Urban Forestry is a branch of the city of Vancouver’s Department of Public Works. Arbor Day is a national observance encouraging tree planting and proper tree care. For more information, visit the National Arbor Day Foundation website at www.arborday.org.
Information provided by city of Vancouver.