For the past 31 years, Sidney has been designated as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation. To be a part of Tree City USA, Sidney had to have a tree board, tree ordinance, a forestry program with a budget, and an Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation
In 1872 J. Sterling Morton proposed that Nebraska should have a special day for planting trees. The holiday is called Arbor Day and is now observed throughout the world.
This year Arbor Day is on April 22th and there will be a Tree Give-Away celebration at the Lodgepole Valley Youth Camp, sponsored by the City of Sidney and the Sidney Tree Board. Registration is at 7AM and the program will start at 8AM. 80-90 trees of different species will be given away. Speaker Amy Seiler with the Nebraska Forest Service will discuss the best places to plant various trees.