Station Host Registration
Trees are the Best! 2017 Arbor Fest

Celebrating 50 years of the Yakima Area Arboretum!

"If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it."
-David Sobel, Beyond Ecophobia

 
     Saturday, April 15, 2017

Arbor Festival Schedule

7:30am  -Grounds Open - Setup Begins
               Station Check-In Opens

8:00am -Treats/Coffee in Jewett Center Kitchen    

9:30am -All Stations Ready to Open
              Kitchen Closes
             All Vehicles OFF the grounds

10:00am to 3:00pm - Event Time

3:00pm until Finished - Station Clean up

Lunch Vendors

 

Smokey Creek BBQ

$6 Hamburger or Pulled Pork Sandwich*
$5 Hot Dog*
Each sandwich includes baked beans, chips, and bottled water or pop.

Blissful Bites 

 Mini Donuts 
Hawaiian Shave Ice
Coffe, Red Bull Drinks, and More!  

 

Arboretum Gift Shop
Chips, candy, granola bars, gum, sodas and bottled water.

 

Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible!

 

Logo Header YAA 

Questions or concerns? Call....

Garrett Brenden
Arbor Fest Planning Contact
509-248-7337

Yakima Area Arboretum 
1401 Arboretum Drive
Yakima, WA 98901 
509-248-7337
info@ahtrees.org 

 
Driving Directions 

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If you are interested in hosting a Station at the event, please select the "Register Now" button below:Register Now!
STILL ACCEPTING STATION HOSTS, CALL (509) 248-7337 FOR AVAILABILITY
 
ABOUT ARBOR FESTIVAL: Arbor Festival Dr. Treerific

The Arbor Festival began in 2000 and has grown into one of the largest Arbor Day celebrations in the Pacific Northwest with over 3000 people attending annually.  Since its inception Arbor Fest has blossumed from a simple celebration of Arbor Day to a major event focusing on the joys of spring, conservation and natural science. 

The Arbor Festival is a FREE event featuring 35 + educational stations hosted by various community organizations and businesses, including the Arboretum's very popular "Dr. Treerific Tree Clinic" that will give away 700 trees during the day. 

2017 ARBOR FESTIVAL THEME:          "Trees are the Best"
Themes were introduced in 2004 to keep the event fresh and dynamic with new activities and information added each year.   

We ask our station hosts to match their educational programming to the theme (Which should be pretty easy this year!)

In celebration of our 50th anniversary, the theme for 2017 is “Trees are the Best” which asks you to show the community why Trees are the Best year-round day in and day out. Need help with your station? Think back to previous years of Arborfest and choose your favorite theme.

Here are some recommended topics your station might consider:
  • "The Giving Tree" - What are some things that trees give us?
  • "A Walk in the Woods" - What activities and hobbys can you do out in the forest?
  • "Nature's 'Tree'rific Art" - What kind of art can trees and nature be used in?
  • "The Incredible Edible Tree" - What foods and other edibles do trees provide us?
  • "Circle of Life" - Focus is on the lifecycle of plants and animals, along with other cycles in nature.
  • "Go Green" - Teach about sustainable ways to reduce one's carbon footprint.
  • "Trees For Life" - How trees create a healthy living environement.
  • "After the Fire" - How do trees and forests react to fires? Are fires bad for them?
2017 ARBOR FESTIVAL INFORMATION:
The 18th Annual Arbor Festival will be held Saturday, April 15, 2017 from 10am to 3pm on the Arboretum Grounds.
 
All station host applications are due before or by March 20, 2017 if you want to be included in the station map.  Upon completion and receipt of your application, you will be notified via email to confirm your participation in the upcoming Arbor Festival.
 
STATION HOST INFORMATION:

Arbor Fest CWU Bio Sciences All station hosts and volunteers are expected to check-in when they arrive Saturday morning at the Volunteer Check-in Station near the Jewett Interpretive Center.  The Check-In Station will be open at 7:30 AM.  Station hosts are expected to have their stations ready to go by 9:30 AM and have the station manned until the event ends at 3:00 PM. 

You can use your vehicle to transport your equipment and materials to and from your station using designated routes onto the grounds.  Once the equipment and materials are unloaded, all vehicles must be removed from the grounds and parked in the designated parking areas.  Only if your vehicle is part of your activity or display will it be allowed on the grounds during the event such as Yakima County Search and Rescue.  Once the event ends, you will be allowed to pull your vehicle onto the grounds again to load your equipment and materials.

Who can host a station at the Arbor Festival?
The Aboretum Education Committee is very selective about who can host a station at the Arbor Festival. Typically organizations and/or businesses chosen to host a station have a strong nature based educational mission or feature an activity or display that compliments the event's theme.  Arboretum Affiliated Member Partners are always welcome to host a station at the event, provided their activity matches the theme.

What is expected of a station host? 
Station hosts are asked to be as self sufficient as possible and to choose an activity and/or display to match the Arbor Festival theme. Station hosts must bring their own supplies, copies of handouts, tables, chairs, and volunteers to staff your station.  If you choose to offer crafts or handouts be prepared to work with 500-600 children.  We can expect more people on nice weather days.  Please, no selling of merchandise or products at your station.  Arbor Festival is a free community event.
 
Where are the stations located? 
 Most stations are located outdoors on the lawn.  There are a limited number of station spaces located inside the Jewett Interpretive Center.  There are also a limited number of electrical outlets located on the outside of the Jewett Interpretive Center.  Please note on your application in the "Any additional information or requests" section if you would like to request electricity and/or inside placement for your station.  We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
 
What you will need to bring with you?
  -  Tables, chairs, and/or canopy to use at your station.
  -  Stamp and ink stamp pad that represents your organization or activity.
  -  Volunteers to assist you.  A limited number of YAA volunteers will be available to help with 
        bathroom breaks, if needed.
  -  Enough supplies, if applicable, for 500 + children.
  -  Optional supplies you may need: tape, pens, string, etc. as well as any station activity items.  
  -  Bottled water, snacks and/or lunch.  More information below.
  -  Don't forget sunscreen!!


Will food and beverages be available?
The Yakima Area Arboretum will be providing morning treats including coffee for all station volunteers.  This will be available from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM in the kitchen of the Jewett Interpretive Center. 

We encourage you to bring a sack lunch, or you can purchase food from one of the vendors in the food court from 10AM to 3PM.  Beverages and snacks will also be available for purchase in the Treehouse Gift Shop in the Jewett Interpretive Center from 9AM to 5PM.

Will there be extra volunteers available to help me at my station?
Although every station host is asked to be self-sufficient and to bring their own volunteers, if a lack of volunteers and/or tables would hinder your participation in this event, please let us know.  We will try to assist you.

 

Groups Who Have Signed Up:
Yakima Area Arboretum Naturalists
Yakima Valley Mushroom Society
CWU Department of Biological Sciences
Yakima Rock and Mineral Club
Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group
Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission
WSU Master Gardeners & 4-H
Gone Fiddlin' Again Kids
Cowiche Canyon Conservancy
Yakima Humane Society
Washington State Parks Dept
Yakima Valley Audubon Society
Washington Native Plant Society
Wenas Mammoth Foundation
Fulcrum Environmental Consulting
US Forest Service
US Department of Agriculture
Pieti Family
West Valley Ecology Club
Yakima Valley Libraries
Yakama Nation Wildlife Programs
WA Department of Fish and Wildlife
Arbor Life Tree Services
Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic
Yakima Valley Firewise
Yakima County Stormwater
Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency
Heritage University