The 2018 Shade Trees on Playgrounds (STOP) program is accepting applications through Friday, May 18, for schools needing additional shade on playgrounds.
Winning schools receive five shade trees, mulch, watering supplies, and planting guidelines, according to the Arkansas Agriculture Department.
Officials with the department’s Arkansas Forestry Commission (AFC) plant trees during a ceremony with students each fall.
Urban forestry staff began the STOP program 15 years ago to help lower adult skin cancer risk by reducing childhood exposure to direct sunlight on school playgrounds. Since then, more than 100 Arkansas schools have received trees. The STOP program also provides teachers with a full curriculum about the environmental benefits of trees, how shade reduces skin cancer risks, and tips for keeping trees healthy.
“The STOP Program is one of our most rewarding initiatives because it gives us the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with students and teachers in an outdoor setting,” Alison Litchy, AFC Urban Forestry coordinator, said in a news release.
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“We strive to make the program a fun and memorable way to educate students about the many environmental and health benefits of trees, including the important protection they provide in reducing a child’s risk of adult skin cancer,” Litchy said.
Trees are chosen by AFC staff to fit the unique region and conditions of each playground. Lacebark elms, oaks, tulip poplars, and black gum trees are common candidates for the program.
To participate in the STOP program, a school must meet the following criteria:
• Lack shade on a school playground;
• Participate in a STOP workshop at Little Rock on Sept. 4;
• Use provided curriculum materials to emphasize the importance of trees during the week leading up to the tree planting event;
• Involve students in tree-related projects that culminate with a tree planting ceremony;
• Hold a tree planting ceremony prior to Oct. 31;
• Be willing to maintain the planted trees.
To find an online STOP application and program guidelines, visit http://www.aad.arkansas.gov/stop-program1>.