Let’s Get Planting, Dubuque! The Trees for Kids Grant is Here

I love exploring this beautiful Tri-State area. The very best parts of Iowa are found here: from the roaring Mississippi River, to the bluffs of Guttenberg, from the caves of Maquoketa, to the lush forest of Yellow River. Iowa is beautiful, and we can help keep it that way.

Dubuque County, it’s time to grab those shovels and round up the kids, because tree planting season just got a whole lot more exciting. The Trees for Kids grant program is back this fall, offering funding to help local schools and communities plant trees in public spaces. It’s a chance to beautify neighborhoods, teach kids about nature, and add some serious leafy charm to places that need it—all with a little help (and a lot of enthusiasm) from the next generation.

Offered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the grant provides up to $2,500 per project to help local schools, parks, and community groups buy trees and mulch. The key requirement? Kids need to be actively involved—usually helping with the planting itself, which turns out to be one of the most rewarding parts of the whole process.

This program is designed to help kids get hands-on with nature while improving their surroundings. It encourages them to step away from screens, get their hands dirty, and learn about the benefits trees bring to communities: from cleaner air and cooler playgrounds to more vibrant and inviting spaces.

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Here in Dubuque County, there are plenty of great spots that could use a leafy boost, so to speak. Maybe a sunny corner of a schoolyard in Peosta, a walking trail in Farley, or a local park in Dubuque itself. Wherever the trees go, research shows the benefits are significant: kids tend to focus better, show fewer behavioral issues, and even experience improvements in physical and mental health when green space is nearby.

With $50,000 total in funding available statewide, the grant is competitive, but well within reach for communities with a solid plan and some motivated young helpers. Just be sure to choose tree species from the approved list and plant them on public land.

Applications are due by Friday, August 22, 2025, at 4 PM, and must be submitted online. You can find all the details and forms at www.iowadnr.gov/urbangrants.

So if you’ve got a patch of grass, a group of eager kids, and a vision for a greener Dubuque County, now’s the time to make it happen. Let's keep Dubuque Beautiful!