Annual activities accompanying Merritt Forest Week took place between May 24 and May 28, 2010.

One of the activities was a poster contest open to all grade five students from Merritt elementary schools.

Students were asked to create their works of art based on the theme of Loggers Are Our Friends.

Four winners were chosen, all of whom will spend one fun-filled week at Silver Lake Camp near Peachland. The lucky winners are Silas Potter - Diamond Vale Elementary, Luke Reese - Central Elementary, Shayleigh Pinko - Nicola Canford Elementary, and Breanna Turmel - Bench Elementary.

Honourable mentions, which include a prize of a punch card to the Nicola Valley Aquatic Centre, go to Taryn Hack - Colletville Elementary, Cheyanne Shackelly and Liam Miller - Nicola Canford Elementary, Mishayla Morrissey and Jordan Hale - Bench Elementary, Natasha Zimmerman and Nika Beech - Central Elementary, and Justice Cisco and Chalee Mulling - Diamond Vale Elementary.

Another Forest Week activity had grade four, five, and six students from the local elementary schools planting trees at the Harmon Lake recreation site. An average of 60 students per day participated.

Jennifer Reid, with the Ministry of Forests and Range, said, “Even though the days were slightly rainy, the children's spirits were not dampened.”

In addition to the fun of planting the trees, children learned about the importance of reforestation from local volunteers from the various forestry licensees and Ministry employees.

Also offered during the week was a classroom presentation about climate change. Three elementary schools – Collettville, Nicola Canford, and Diamond Vale – had speakers come to their classrooms to share information related to the topic.
Although National Forest Week has officially been moved to the fall – this year from September 19 to 25 – Merritt will continue offering Forest Week activities in the spring.

“Merritt will continue with Forest Week in the spring due to the tree planting activities with students because tree planting does not normally occur in the fall,” explained Michelle Zabik of Tolko Industries.

Forest Week activities were organized by the Merritt Forest Week Committee consisting of participants from Aspen Planers, Stuwix Resources Ltd., Tolko Industries, Ardew Wood Products, Ministry of Forests and Range, and the Ministry of Forests Protection Branch.

The prizes for the poster contest were made possible by the combined fundraising efforts of these organizations.