NC State College of Natural Resources Brings Back the NC Arbor Day Festival

This past March, NC State College of Natural Resources partnered with We Plant it Forward and Raleigh Parks to host the first NC Arbor Day celebration since 2018. The celebration was held at John Chavis Memorial Park in Raleigh, NC on Saturday, March 25th from 12 - 4pm. 

Community outdoor festival with colorful vendor tents and "SPINNING PLATE" food truck
Figure 1: Image of festival layout at John Chavis Memorial Park.

The festival had 44 educational vendors including NC State organizations including NC State College of Natural Resources, NC State Extension Forestry, NC State Forest Health Lab, NC State Christmas Tree Genetics, NC State Forestry Club, NC State chapter of SAF, and the NC State Environmental Student Association. 12 retail vendors were in attendance along with 6 food trucks, 2 bands, and various entertainment. 

Figure 2: Image of College of Natural Resources booth
Figure 2: Image of College of Natural Resources booth.

Figure 3: Image of NC State Christmas Trees Genetics booth.
Figure 3: Image of NC State Christmas Trees Genetics booth.

Figure 4: Image of NC State Extension Forestry & Project Learning Tree booth.
Figure 4: Image of NC State Extension Forestry & Project Learning Tree booth.

Main attractions of the event included a free tree seedling giveaway, a parade led by Paperhand Puppet Intervention, a ceremonial tree planting, a drum circle, a performance by Second Shift a capella group, a walk with an arborist, demonstrations on rain barrel construction and solar energy, and more. Bands in attendance were Boulevards and Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba. DeJuan Hoggard of ABC11 Eyewitness News emceed the event. 

Figure 5: Image of ceremonial tree planting.
Figure 5: Image of ceremonial tree planting.

Figure 6: Image of Paperhand Puppets parade.
Figure 6: Image of Paperhand Puppets parade.

Figure 7: Image of drum circle.
Figure 7: Image of drum circle.

1,174 tree seedlings were given away to the nearly 1,000 visitors at this festival. We conducted an educational impact survey that indicated all visitors left with increased awareness about the environment with forestry being the largest area of learning. Our results also suggest long-term outcomes such as changes in behavior in the way visitors dispose of waste and care for our ecosystems. Our short-term and long-term outcomes are displayed in the charts below.

Chart 1: Results of the select all that apply question, “What did you learn about the environment that you did not know before today?”
Chart 1: Results of the select all that apply question, “What did you learn about the environment that you did not know before today?”

Chart 2: Coded results of the open-ended question, “What is something you can do at home to help the environment?”
Chart 2: Coded results of the open-ended question, “What is something you can do at home to help the environment?”

Overall, the 2023 Arbor Day Festival was a great success. Despite rain during the first hours of the festival, visitors came out to celebrate our trees and natural environment for NC Arbor Day. Visitors left with an increased awareness and motivation to change their behavior to conserve and preserve. Thank you to all who participated and contributed to this spectacular event!

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Savannah Moore
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