Arbor Day at Thirkill
May 21, 2026 12:57PM ● By ShayLynn Hennefer
Smokey Bear is one of the biggest celebrities to walk down the hallway during the year at Thirkill elementary.
The City Of Soda Springs along with our local Idaho Forest Service, including Smokey the Bear, visited the 4th Graders at Thirkill Elementary on at the end of April to do our Annual Arbor Day Celebration with the Students.
Every year we get wonderful posters from these amazing 4th grade classes. We pick 2 winners from every class that best depicts Arbor day and the importance of trees. This is our favorite part of this program. These kids are all so talented and their understanding of the importance of trees to not only our community, but the whole world is inspiring.
Rowen and Josie from Mrs. Herron's Class.
If you would like to see these students amazing artwork it is displayed in the windows at City Hall. By class room, the two winners were: from Mrs. Herron’s, Rowen and Josie; from Mrs. Clarke’s, Grace and Alyssa; and from Mrs. Harris’s, Ella and Sistine.
The Arbor Day Foundation is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Tree City USA program in 2026, marking five decades of urban forestry advocacy since its founding in 1976. The milestone honors over 3,500 communities, Soda Springs being one of them for the last 25 years, dedicated to planting and maintaining trees, highlighting a legacy of community impact and sustained local leadership.
Key Aspects of the
50th Anniversary:
The Tree City / Arbor Day Foundation started with just 42 communities in 1976; the program has grown to include thousands of towns and cities across all 50 states.
Tree City USA communities, which often host major events during Arbor Month, plant nearly 1 million trees annually and invest over $2 billion in tree care.
Grace and Alyssa from Mrs. Clarke's class.
The 50th anniversary emphasizes the shift in perception of trees from purely aesthetic to critical, functional infrastructure. For 2026, our community is encouraged to conduct tree plantings and recognize long-term tree stewards to mark this golden anniversary of urban forestry.
The City will be planting 400 hundred trees in the next two years. They will start with 200 this year as part of a new trail system. The City Trail System and Tree Cannopy Project will transform this trail to expand access to safe and accessible outdoor recreation while strengthening environmental stability and community wellness. It will establish a robust tree canopy to enhance environmental resilience and user comfort. It is the City’s desire along with the Tree Canopy Initiative and the Arbor Day Foundation to create a lasting environmental and economic benefit for the community.
Ella and Sistine from Mrs. Harris' class.
