State program throws a little shade at Hope school

HOPE, Ark. — The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has released a list of schools that will be receiving shade trees for their grounds. William Jefferson Clinton Primary in Hope, Arkansas, will be one of them.

The Shade Trees on Playgrounds Program’s goal is to reduce childhood exposure to direct sunlight where children play. Hopefully, this will lower their risk of skin cancer.

Winning schools receive five shade trees, mulch, watering supplies, and planting guidelines after participating in program training.

“The STOP program combines hands-on, outdoor experiences with classroom curriculum about the importance of trees and how to care for trees,” says Urban & Community Forestry Program Coordinator, Kristine Kimbro Thomason. “We hope this program not only improves the health of Arkansas students, but also leaves a lasting impression about the value of forests and how to be good stewards of our natural resources.”

According to Thomason, Large trees are selected to decrease the time needed to produce adequate shade. Some of the trees selected include maples, oaks, tulip poplars and black tupelos.

“As part of the application process, the schools agree to maintain the trees,” she said. Typically, this is a combined effort by teachers, administrators, students, and maintenance/grounds staff. Forestry Division personnel make bi-annual site visits to offer assistance.

The school submitted an application to the Urban & Community Forestry Program Coordinator, Partnership Coordinator, and Urban Forestry representatives from its Forestry Division District. It was asked to describe its plans for cross-curricular lessons about skin cancer prevention and the importance of planting and caring for trees in the community setting.

Each year, applications are submitted and reviewed. To qualify, participating schools must lack shade, participate in a virtual S.T.O.P. workshop, agree to use Forestry Division curriculum, hold a tree-planting ceremony with students, and agree to long-term maintenance of the trees. Forestry Division personnel assist with the transport and planting of the trees.

“The best time for planting trees in Arkansas is in late fall, so most S.T.O.P. Program trees are planted during November and early December,” Thomason said.

(Learn more about this program and other Urban & Community Forestry services and programs, at agriculture.

gov/forestry/ urban-community-forestry. Program questions can be directed to Kristine Kimbro Thomason at 479-228-7929 or

Submitted photo ■ Kindergarten students plant a tree their grade level “adopted” last year at Fouke Elementary School in Miller County, Arkansas, as part of the Shade Trees on Playgrounds Program.