the state of Minnesota - Arbor Day Foundation

Minnesota’s state tree is the Red Pine.
Minnesota State Statistics
Active Arbor Day Foundation Members
in Minnesota: 24,507
Program in Minnesota:
Tree City USA Communities: 96
Total population served: 2,893,235
Largest Tree City USA in Minnesota:
Minneapolis, population 392,880
Smallest Tree City USA in Minnesota:
Sunfish Lake, population 525
Tree Line USA Utilities: 6
Tree Campus USA Colleges: 5
Certified Nature Explore Classrooms: 6
Arbor Day in Minnesota is
celebrated on the last Friday in April.
Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Minnesota
2014 State Report
Outdoor Classroom Fosters Connection
Between Children, Nature
Children today spend less
time outdoors and are more
disconnected from nature
than ever before. At the same time,
studies show increasing rates of
childhood obesity, diabetes, and
behavior challenges. Addressing
the problem is the growing Nature
Explore program, a collaborative
project of the Arbor Day
Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation.
Nature Explore provides comprehensive, field-tested resources to
help educators, administrators, and families make nature part of
the daily lives of children.
At Children’s Country Day School in Mendota Heights,
adding an outdoor classroom only seemed natural.
Country Day’s mission throughout the past 40 years has been
providing hands-on nature experiences for young children. The
7-acre model farm provides the perfect opportunity for children to
interact with a variety of farm animals and participate firsthand
in planting and caring for all aspects of nature.
At school, children play in a messy materials area,
enjoy a natural art area nestled under mature red pine and
spruce trees, and explore the beauty and mysteries of nature
throughout the classroom.
To learn more about Nature Explore Classrooms in
Minnesota, please visit natureexplore.org/classrooms.
Trees Transform Park into
Community Gathering Place
The Arbor Day Foundation’s members
are making a difference by planting trees
across the United States. Our 24,507
Minnesota members helped plant more
than 205,263 trees across the state last year.
Near Royalton, a bend in a river channel was straightened years
ago, leaving an empty patch of land. To fill it, Royalton residents
started to plant trees. Since then, it has become Memorial Park, and
resident Paul Zimny sees this as a valuable part of his community.
“The park is a peaceful place,” Paul said. “Kids are always
spending time there. During the spring, classes use it, too.”
Memorial Park has been such a success as a gathering place
that it has served as springboard to launch the creation of a
nearby skate park, natural area park, and splash park. The
Royalton Tree Board has used funding from the city council
and grants from the University of Minnesota, Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources, and the state’s Department of
Transportation to plant trees not only in the park, but at the local
school and along a major highway that runs through town.

arborday.org
St. Croix State Forest
Towering over the nationally designated
Wild and Scenic River, St. Croix State
Park is 42,142 acres of various pine, oak,
aspen, and birch tree species. The forest provides
wildlife habitat for a large number of animals
including the eastern red-backed salamander,
northern goshawk, whip-poor-will, veery, blackbilled
cuckoo, olive-sided flycatcher, eastern
wood-pewee, bald eagle, wood thrush, gray wolf,
and Canada lynx.
In 2011, a powerful windstorm damaged more than 40,000
acres of the forest. Natural ecosystems were destroyed and
wildlife habitat was lost. The St. Croix River and the Tamarack
River are two vital waterways that will directly benefit from
restoration plantings. The Blowdown Reforestation, through
partnership support, is helping to restore trout stream habitat,
conserve natural ecosystems, and reforest degraded sites.
During May 2014, more than 100,000 red and white pine
trees were planted on 170 acres of state forest land. All the
planting occurred in Pine County along the Minnesota-Wisconsin
border. The first year of restoration was a huge success, thanks to
Arbor Day Foundation partners.
Tree Campus USA
Colleges and universities can be recognized as Tree Campus
USAs by meeting five standards developed to promote healthy
trees and student involvement. By meeting the annual standards,
the campus not only benefits the environment but instills pride in
the students, faculty, and community.
The following Minnesota schools are recognized as Tree
Campus USAs:
• Hennepin Technical College
• Minnesota West Community and
Technical College - Canby Campus
• Minnesota West Community and
Technical College - Granite Falls Campus
Learn more about the Tree Campus USA program at
arborday.org/treecampususa.
Minnesota
= St. Croix
State Forest
• Minnesota West Community and
Technical College - Pipestone Campus
• Minnesota West Community and
Technical College - Worthington Campus
Minnesota Tree City USAs
Support, Enhance
Community Forestry
The Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City
USA ® program encourages, supports, and
strengthens effective urban and community
forestry programs in diverse communities
nationwide through recognition, education,
and publicity. From the humble beginning of
the program 38 years ago, it has grown to be
the leading community forestry recognition
program in the country, with more than 3,400
designated Tree City USAs across America.
Tree City USA is thriving in Minnesota
because of the strong partnership between
the Arbor Day Foundation and the
Minnesota Division of Forestry. Minnesota
boasts 96 certified Tree City USA
communities. Last year, Minnesota Tree City
USAs spent a combined total of $34,012,789
on their urban forestry budgets, benefiting
the more than 2.8 million Minnesota
residents who live in those communities.
The dedication of Minnesota’s urban and
community foresters, city officials, and
citizens to planting and caring for trees
in their cities and towns helps increase
energy savings, clean the air and water, and
beautify the entire state.
Contacts
For more information about programs offered by the Arbor Day Foundation and our work in Minnesota,
please visit arborday.org or contact:
Member Services
Arbor Day Foundation
211 N. 12th St.
Lincoln, NE 68508
888-448-7337
Fax: 402-474-0820
info@arborday.org
Forrest Boe
State Forester
Minnesota Division of Forestry
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4044
651-259-5615
Fax: 651-296-5954
forrest.boe@state.mn.us
Ken Holman
Urban Forestry Coordinator
Minnesota Division of Forestry
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4044
651-259-5269
ken.holman@state.mn.us
70017007