2020 Winners of the Arbor Day Student Photo Contest
Nearly 200 photos were submitted in the Arbor Day Photo Contest, addressing the theme “Look to the Forest.”
To celebrate Arbor Day, the Idaho Forest Products Commission sponsors the Look to the Forest Photo Contest. The competition was open to all Idaho students in 5th – 12th grades. Students were asked to show us what they see when they Look To The Forest. In addition to the photo, students provided a statement sharing their vision of how their photo relates to the contest theme, Look to the Forest. These are the results for 2020!
First Place Winners 5-12 | Honorable Mentions Grades 5-6 | Honorable Mentions Grades 7-8 | Honorable Mentions Grades 9-10 | Honorable Mentions Grades 11-12
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
GRAND PRIZE
Student: Kanyon Christman
Caption: 3 Peas in a Pod
Grade: 6
School: Christman Academy, Rigby
Teacher: Rosie Christman
Statement: When I look to the forest, I see family. Families have to work together and provide for each other. They multiply, and soar the skies. To me, the forest is about families.
WINNER GRADES 7-8
Student: Olivia Stanton
Caption: A Single Yellow Flower
Grade: 7
School: Lewis & Clark Middle School, Meridian
Teacher: Andrea Baerwald
Statement: I found this picture in the forest near a swampy area. There were only a few flowers in this area. It made me realize to notice the small things in the forest, for they can bring you just as much joy as the bigger things.
WINNER GRADES 9-10
Student: Annika Zuschlag
Caption: Look (up) to the Forest
Grade: 10
School: Boise High School, Boise
Teacher: Jeremiah O’Mahony
Statement: When I look to the forest, I often forget to look up at the incredible beauty surrounding me. Sometimes we forget to cherish our forests, and changing that starts with one single tree. This massive Ponderosa shows just how impactful our forests are.
WINNER GRADES 11-12
Student: Caleb Starner
Caption: The Light That Burns Bright
Grade: 12
School: Liberty Charter School, Nampa
Teacher: Jackie Nelson
Statement: My Grandfather “Looks to the Forest” as an escape from the chaos of life. For him his escape is to work with his lanterns, to fix what is broken, light what is dark, and to be the flame that burns bright in our camp.
HONORABLE MENTIONS GRADES 5-6
First Place Winners 5-12 | Honorable Mentions Grades 5-6 | Honorable Mentions Grades 7-8 | Honorable Mentions Grades 9-10 | Honorable Mentions Grades 11-12
Student: Margot Cotter
Caption: Shields Creek Waterfall
Grade: 5
School: Silver Hills Elementary School, Osburn
Teacher: Nichole Farkas
Statement: In Idaho we look to the forest for many resources. My photo relates to the theme, Look to the Forest, because the source of this waterfall is a natural spring. This source was once used as clean drinking water for the Coeur Mine in Osburn, Idaho.
Student: Azelynn Jones
Caption: Squirrel in the Tree
Grade: 6
School: Leadore School, Leadore
Teacher: Melody Kauer
Statement: This is one of the animals I see when I am out hiking with my family.
Student: Bodie Pirlot
Caption: Backroads
Grade: 5
School: Southside Elementary, Cocolalla
Teacher: Barbie Hunt
Statement: “Look to the Forest” to escape the everyday hustle. No traffic here!
Student: Charlotte Zuercher
Caption: Insect & Flower in the Wilderness
Grade: 5
School: Trail Wind Elementary, Boise
Teacher: Tyler Targee
Statement:When I look to the forest I look for living & beautiful things. When I took my photo I was drawn to the colors of the insect and wildflower. I took the photo in the Frank Church Wilderness while backpacking. I love being in the forest.
HONORABLE MENTIONS GRADES 7-8
First Place Winners 5-12 | Honorable Mentions Grades 5-6 | Honorable Mentions Grades 7-8 | Honorable Mentions Grades 9-10 | Honorable Mentions Grades 11-12
Student: Sophia Andrus
Caption: Our Green Forest
Grade: 8
School: Riverglen Junior High, Boise
Teacher: Sarah Sessions
Statement: This photo was taken on the Hiawatha Trail in Idaho. It is a beautiful birds eye view of vividly green trees. The picture looks almost like a miniature landscape that you want to be in, making anybody viewing want to look and explore the forest.
Student: Brayden Buell
Caption: Fishin in the dark
Grade: 7
School: St. Maries Middle School, St, Maries
Teacher: Jennifer Tefft
Statement: The forest and fishing give me and a lot of people a sense of peace. When people are feeling stressed they should do things like fishing, hiking, and other activities in the forest.
Student: Aliya Butler
Caption: A Misty Morning
Grade: 8
School: Hillside Junior High, Boise
Teacher: Sarah Sessions
Statement: Imagine. Everything around you is blurred with a soft gray tint of low lying clouds. You can feel tiny drops of cool water on your face as you continue to walk through the fog. And when you breath in, the feeling of nature invades your whole body.
Student: Aleah Christman
Caption: All Twisted Up
Grade: 7
School: Christman Academy, Rigby
Teacher: Rosie Christman
Statement: When I look to the forest I see character. Not one thing is the same no matter how hard I look. When I look to the forest I am surrounded by a beautiful and unique world that captures my heart!
Student: Luciya Davidson
Caption: Nature’s Portal
Grade: 7
School: Anser Charter School, Boise
Teacher: Abby Wirsching
Statement: My photo relates to the theme Look to the Forest because it is taken without the bigger picture of the woods, reminding us to be noticing the little things in nature, since sometimes the little things are most important.
Student: Ava Eppich
Caption: It’s Chickadee Time!
Grade: 7
School: Council Junior Senior High School, Council
Teacher: Valerie Armichardy
Statement: When I look to the forest, I see birds. Every time you listen to the forest, it is always alive with sounds. Most of the time, those sounds include chickadees. They are always flying about the forest and making sweet sounds.
Student: Presley Fitzsimmons
Caption: My Home
Grade: 7
School: Lewis and Clark Middle School, Boise
Teacher: Erin Harris
Statement: When looking into the forest one has to remember that this is what many species call home.
Student: Anna Howlett
Caption: Fire in the Sky
Grade: 8
School: Middleton Middle School, Middleton
Teacher: Janine Remington
Statement: When I look to the forest, I see the beauty of trees against the sunset. After spending a day outdoors, this sunset was special. The power of the sun is spectacular. Trees harvest energy from the sun and give us valuable resources.
Student: Ruby Lewers
Caption: When I vision a forest, I picture bogus basin because of all my memories there and all of the beautiful sunsets that never grow old.
Grade: 8
School: West Junior High, Boise
Teacher: Tanya Gordon
Statement: My photo relates to the theme, Look to the forest because of all the trees near the sunset.
Student: Iliana Lewis
Caption: New life brings new hope.
Grade: 8
School: Wallace Miners, Wallace
Teacher: Jeanne-Marie McPherson
Statement: This is a symbol of how much we should cherish every tree, and also shows the happening of current and new life.
Student: Braxton Thompson
Caption: Trees beyond the Sun
Grade: 7
School: Timberline High School, Weippe
Teacher: Kristen Sparrow
Statement: There are trees and is Beautiful with the sun shining through them.
Student: Allie Valentine
Caption: Fleurs de Cerisier
Grade: 7
School: Lewis and Clark Middle School, Meridian
Teacher: Erin Harris
Statement: Fleures de Cerisier is French for cherry blossoms. I believe my photo relates to the theme because there is so much life in a forest and my picture shows how much life there is, even on a single tree.
HONORABLE MENTIONS GRADES 9-10
First Place Winners 5-12 | Honorable Mentions Grades 5-6 | Honorable Mentions Grades 7-8 | Honorable Mentions Grades 9-10 | Honorable Mentions Grades 11-12
Student: Levi Armichardy
Caption: Beauty in the Smallest Things
Grade: 9
School: Council Jr./Sr. High School, Council
Teacher: Valerie Armichardy
Statement: When most people think of the forest, the first thing that springs to mind is trees, mountains, or lakes. However, I look at the micro-world too. In fact, that is where I look to the forest to provide nature’s most beautiful works of art.
Student: Rio Centers
Caption: Stars Descended
Grade: 10
School: Bishop Kelly High School
Teacher: Dana Hopper-Kelly
Statement: This tree makes everyone stop dead in their tracks, some move their tracks towards the tree. The “fingers” entwined with age and lights draw you in and when standing under, you feel as if God sprinkled some stars upon you when looking at the “forest”
Student: Kristan Chipp
Caption: Into the forest I go, where I lose my mind and soul ?
Grade: 10
School: Council High School, Council
Teacher: Valerie. Armichardy
Statement: I lose myself every time I go into forests of lush greenery. I look to the forest to forget my worries and troubles.
Student: Siri Greenhalgh
Caption: A Bridge to the Forest
Grade: 9
School: Kimberly High School, Kimberly
Teacher: Sara Crystal
Statement: This bridge connects everyday life and the forest. If you look across it, you’ll see a whole world filled with trees, birds, and animals. Crossing this bridge will transform everything around you into an amazing new forest world.
Student: Kaiya Kearns
Caption: Reflections
Grade: 10
School: Boise High School, Boise
Teacher: Jeremiah O’Mahony
Statement: This photo relates to the theme because it shows how an ecosystem works together in unison. Trees, water, grass, birds, and plants. It shows balance like mother nature intended the forest to be.
Student: Bella Mitchell
Caption: The Circle of LIfe
Grade: 10
School: Lake City High School, Coeur d’ Alene
Teacher: Donna Staub
Statement: Seeds fall from the pine cones to grow the trees of the forest, and the flowers represent how the forest springs forward every year and grows. This photo as a whole represents the cycle of life in the forest.
Student: Bridgette Silva
Caption: The Remaining Warrior
Grade: 9
School: Sun Valley Community School, Sun Valley
Teacher: Anne Aganon
Statement: This colorful leaf had survived the autumn breeze and the bitter cold of winter. It stayed on the tree for many months and remained a beautiful crimson color. This shows that items in a forest can be warriors and so can we.
HONORABLE MENTIONS GRADES 11-12
First Place Winners 5-12 | Honorable Mentions Grades 5-6 | Honorable Mentions Grades 7-8 | Honorable Mentions Grades 9-10 | Honorable Mentions Grades 11-12
Student: Caleb Starner
Caption: Relaxing in God’s Garden
Grade: 12
School: Liberty Charter School, Nampa
Teacher: Jackie Nelson
Statement: Whenever I’m outdoors I “Look to the Forest” in awe of its beauty. From the tall trees and harsh mountains, to bristling brooks and tiny insects. One of our families favorite things is to set up our hammocks and take in the beauty of God’s garden.
Student: Matthew Foley
Caption: Evening Descent
Grade: 12
School: Lakeland High School, Rathdrum
Teacher: Brian Etchison
Statement: The scenic north Idaho sunsets provide beauty unbeknownst to most. The breathtaking landscape from atop the peak is humbling and provides a humbling sense of graciousness. I see wondrous works as the fog settles upon the forested scenery.
Student: Adiah Jackson
Caption: Soft Trees
Grade: 11
School: Timberline High School, Boise
Teacher: Patricia Thorpe
Statement: Across Idaho we have a plethora of forests, but in my eyes none compare to the ones atop snowy mountains. Snowboarding has long been a passion of mine. This photo was taken at Bogus Basin, where I have spent many weekends.
Student: Adiah Jackson
Caption: Look Up
Grade: 11
School: Timberline High School, Boise
Teacher: Patricia. Thorpe
Statement:All around us we have trees, forests, and woodlands. But too often are they taken for granted. Many never see the beauty of these wonderful places. This owl was very well camouflaged, but it’s the hard things to find that are worth looking for.
Student: Sierra Navarro
Caption: The Lone Tree
Grade: 12
School: Columbia High School, Nampa
Teacher: Terrell Moffett
Statement: In this image, The Lone Tree is an old and weathered tree that looks upon the young and thriving forest below him. Therefore, not only is the viewer looking to the forest, they are looking upon generations of forests; a literal family tree.
Student: Sierra Navarro
Caption: Melting Trees
Grade: 12
School: Columbia High School, Nampa
Teacher: Terrell Moffett
Statement: There are many different ways one can look to the forest. A person can look to the forest and nature for answers, for relief and a break from their lives, or for inspiration. This image portrays a very unique way too look at the forest.
Student: Jessica Nicole Richards
Caption: Secrets melted away as winter comes to an end
Grade: 11
School: Timberline High School, Boise
Teacher: Patricia Thorpe
Statement: When winter is coming to an end, and the snow is starting to melt revealing the secrets that winter hides. The details of the pine needles and thier bright green color that we enjoy to see come alive again.
Student: Sage Saccomanno
Caption: February 2020 – Grooming up Trestle Creek with my dad.
Grade: 12
School: Sandpoint High School, Sandpoint
Teacher: John Hastings
Statement: This photo relates to the theme because it connects with many Idahoans on a personal level. These forests where I and many others have grown up snowmobiling, skiing, hiking and much more are home to us, and this picture shows a backside of that home.
Student: Braden Saylors
Caption: BLANKET OF LIFE | F5.6 | 1/100s | ISO500
Grade: 11
School: Timberline High School, Boise
Teacher: Patricia Thorpe
Statement: The mists of time blanket the forests that sit curled like massive prehistoric creatures in the darkened gloom, glowering and restless, a beating heart rhythmically pulsing underfoot as time creeps along. Thank You @enchanted_rose_florist ♡
Student: Kiana Scott
Caption: Purple Forest Majesty
Grade: 11
School: Timberline High School, Boise
Teacher: Patricia Thorpe
Statement: When seen from many different angles, the forest can create a magical image. When seen at sunset the colors may surprise you. When given some attention, our forest provides us with many opportunities that makes us realize what majesty lies before us.