Celebrate National Forest Week
How to participate in National Forest Week
Explore our contests, activities and more below to help you celebrate NFW in your neck of the woods!
2023 THEME
National Forest Week
September 17-23, 2023
Canada’s Forests: Supporting Biological Diversity
Biological diversity in our forests is critical to our survival. From fresh air and water, food security, medicines, shelter to innovative products and technologies, forests and trees provide many cultural, societal, environmental, and economical benefits. In a changing climate, forest practitioners, professionals, researchers, and scientists are working to ensure forests are sustainably managed for generations to come.
Learn how Canada’s forests maintain biological diversity by following #NationalForestWeek / #SemaineNationaleDeLArbreEtDesForêts !
WAYS TO PARTICIPATE
From September 17-23, 2023, we’re inviting Canadians to learn more about the forest sector and its significance to Canada’s culture, history, and future, while also supporting a greater recognition of forests as a valuable, renewable and green resource.
Participate Online
- Like and share/re-tweet posts created by the CIF-IFC or posts using the hashtag #NationalForestWeek or #SemaineNationaleDeLArbreEtDesForêts
- Share National Forest Week digital creatives via social media using the hashtag #NationalForestWeek or #SemaineNationaleDeLArbreEtDesForêts
- Create your own content using the daily sub-themes from the Social Media Content Schedule and share them using the hashtag #NationalForestWeek or #SemaineNationaleDeLArbreEtDesForêts
Creative Downloads
Promotional poster
Promotional postcard
Social media shareables
Social media banners
Bilingual
Social Media Content Schedule
Sunday, September 17, 2023
Daily Sub-Theme:
Benefits of biodiversity
How biodiversity connects us all and is essential for our survival.
Proudly co-sponsored by: Forest Stewardship Council Canada and Resource Works
Monday, September 18, 2023
Daily Sub-Theme:
Biodiversity in the forest
The significant role Canada’s forests play in biological diversity.
Proudly sponsored by: GreenFirst Forest Products
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#NationalForestWeek + #MyForestMonday – Show us how you are spending time in a forest near you!
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Daily Sub-Theme:
Biodiversity in a changing world
The major threats to biodiversity in Canada’s forests, such as climate change and invasive species.
Proudly sponsored by: City of Fredericton
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#NationalForestWeek + #TreeviaTuesday – Participate in the Special Edition of Treevia Tuesday and test your forest knowledge for a chance to win a prize!
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Daily Sub-Theme:
Forest ecosystem services and products
How forests and trees provide many cultural, spiritual, societal, environmental, and economical benefits and offer green alternatives through innovative products and technology advancements.
Proudly sponsored by: Natural Resources Canada
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#NationalForestWeek + #WildlifeWednesday – Forests are full of wildlife! Let’s see your favourite forest friends.
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Wednesday, September 20th also marks #NationalTreeDay!
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Daily Sub-Theme:
Maintaining biodiversity
Forest practitioners, professionals, researchers, and scientists are working to maintain biodiversity and ensure Canada’s forests are resilient.
Proudly sponsored by: West Fraser
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#NationalForestWeek + #TreeatThursday – You’re in for a treeat! Participate in our giveaway contest for your chance to win free NFW and CIF merch! Contest details will be posted on CIF’s social media channels on Thursday, September 21, 2023.
Friday, September 22, 2023
Daily Sub-Theme:
Connecting with forests
Inspiring young minds to connect with nature, forests, trees, and recognize the significance of Canada’s forest heritage through interactive educational resources and tools.
Proudly sponsored by: Canadian Forest Products Ltd.
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#NationalForestWeek + #ForestFactFriday – Follow along for some neat forest facts that may surprise you!
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Daily Sub-Theme:
Responsible forest management
Forests are a renewable and valuable resource and Canada is a world leader in sustainable forest management.
Proudly sponsored by: Tolko Industries Ltd.
Additional Ways to Participate
- Declare NFW in your town/municipality through a proclamation, lighting of a town/municipal/provincial building, or both!
- Take a walk in woods nearby and get to know your forest
- CIF-IFC Trees of Celebration Program
- Arrange a tree planting: Tree Canada
- Care for a newly planted or neglected tree, and study its species
- Identify all the things at home or school that are made of wood
- Learn about organizations that demonstrate sustainable forest management
- Tour a forest sector industry or processing site
- Learn about the prevention of forest fires
- Contact a provincial forestry association for teaching materials.
- Visit the NFW-BC Coalition website for information about NFW in the west!
- Lead a National Forest Week event
- Paticipate in our Annual National Forest Week Photo Contest, Youth Drawing Contest, or Treevia Tuesday
- Download our National Forest Week resources and activity sheets
Photo Contest
To celebrate National Forest Week, the Canadian Institute of Forestry is inviting you to participate in our 4th annual national photo contest! The contest will run through the duration of National Forest Week (September 17-23, 2023).
Rules
- Contest begins on September 17, 2023 at 12:00 am and ends on September 23, 2023 at 11:59 pm (local time)
- Contest is open to residents of Canada, including both CIF-IFC members and non-members
- Purpose of contest is to celebrate National Forest Week (September 17-23, 2023)
- Photos submitted must showcase forests/trees in Canada
- Contest winner will receive a prize and a special feature of their photograph in various CIF-IFC digital communication outlets
How to enter
- Entries are to be a digital photograph (JPEG or PNG) and submitted electronically by email to nfw-snaf@cif-ifc.org
- Entries must be submitted and received by September 23, 2023 at 11:59 pm
- Submissions must include:
- Digital photograph (JPEG or PNG) showcasing forests/trees in Canada
- Photographer name and contact information
- Short caption describing the photograph, including the location of where it was captured
Youth Drawing Contest
Get your markers and pens ready! We are inviting you to participate in our 3rd annual Canada-wide youth drawing contest for NFW!
This makes for a great summer project or classroom activity! Entries must be received by October 15, 2023.
How to participate
- Download the drawing contest form here.
- Show us how you spend time in the forest by completing your artwork in the dedicated space provided on page 2 of the form
- Fill out your contact information on page 3 of the form
- Submit entries via email to nfw-snaf@cif-ifc.org
- Entries must be received by October 15, 2023
Who can participate
- Youth from the ages of 4-12
Contest winners
- One participant in each age category (4-6, 7-9, and 10-12) from each province/territory will be chosen as a winner
- Winners will be announced in November 2023 and will receive a prize pack and nature activity book!
Treevia Tuesday
Mark your calendars! The 4th annual National Forest Week Special Edition of Treevia Tuesday will take place on September 19, 2023.
Join in on the fun and test your forest knowledge! The top 3 players will receive a prize.
How to participate
When: Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Where: crowd.live/YDHUN
- Go to the link above on September 19th
- Enter your name and email
- Select “Go!” when ready
- Participate in the 20 question quiz before 11:59 pm ET
Contest winners
Congratulations to the top 3 players from 2022!
- Laurie McCulligh – 19/20 answers correct
- Lindsay Eby – 16/20 answers correct
- Erin Pearson – 15/20 answers correct
Poetry Contest
Get creative and express your imagination! In celebration of National Forest Week, we are inviting youth to participate in our 2nd Annual Canada-wide poetry contest!
How to participate
- Write a poem (50-200 words) in the dedicated space on the form here.
- The poem should be unique, creative, free of spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors
- Fill out page 3 with your contact information
- Submit entries via email to nfw-snaf@cif-ifc.org
- Entries must be received by October 15, 2023
Who can participate
- Youth in Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12
Contest winners
- One participant in each Grade category (Grades 9 & 10, and 11 & 12) from each province/territory will be selected as a winner
- Winners will be announced in November 2023 and will receive a swag box and nature activity book!
Past contest winners
Educational Resources & Activity Sheets
National Forest Week is a perfect time to learn more about one of Canada’s most valuable resources!
Check out our Forest Education page for more free resources including inforgraphics, teaching kits, factsheets and more covering a variety of different topics.
Declaring National Forest Week
Building off the success of a pilot project launched in 2020 in collaboration with Resource Works (which encouraged forest communities in BC to formally declare NFW in their municipalities), the CIF-IFC engages with communities in provinces and territories across Canada to help bring awareness to NFW. This outreach includes ways to participate in NFW as well as encouraging towns, municipalities and provinces to declare NFW through a proclamation, lighting of a town/municipal/provincial building, or both!
Participating communities/regions for 2023
British Columbia
- Abbotsford, BC
- Colwood, BC
- Nanaimo, BC
- Richmond, BC
- Vancouver, BC
- Victoria, BC
- Williams Lake, BC
Alberta
- Airdrie, AB
- Edmonton, AB
- Grande Prairie, AB
- Lethbridge, AB
- Medicine Hat, AB
- Stony Plain, AB
- Strathcona County, AB
Saskatchewan
- Government of Saskatchewan, Ministry of Energy and Resources and Ministry of Environment
- Prince Albert, SK
- Regina, SK
- Saskatoon, SK
Manitoba
- Manitoba Provincial Legislature Dome
Ontario
- Aurora, ON
- Barrie, ON
- Belleville, ON
- Brampton, ON
- Hamilton, ON
- Markham, ON
- Newmarket, ON
- North Bay, ON
- Ottawa, ON
- Parry Sound, ON
- Thunder Bay, ON
- Toronto, ON
- Vaughan, ON
- Whitby, ON
Québec
- Gatineau, QC
New Brunswick
- Saint John, NB
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Newfoundland and Labrador – Government House
- St. John’s, NL
Show us how you will be celebrating 103 years of National Forest Week!
Use the hashtag #NationalForestWeek or #SemaineNationaleDeLArbreEtDesForêts and tag us at:
Twitter/Instagram: @CIF_IFC
Facebook: @CIF.IFC
LinkedIn: @Canadian Institute of Forestry
Thank you to our 2023 National Forest Week sponsors!
