Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Twelve days of forest Christmas

Image shows the hand of Santa Claus hanging a white globe ornament with the Forest Service shield on to a Christmas tree.
Let’s celebrate the holiday season with a forest-themed version of that Christmas classic, the 12 Days of Christmas. Here are the lyrics so you can sing along!On the 12th day of Christmas, the forest gave to me:  12 rangers ranging  11 elk herds grazing  10 goats a leaping  9 flowers blooming  8 mules a packing  7 swans a swimming  6 geese a laying  5 oak…
#Christmas, #ChristmasTrees, #Holidays

Finding the $5 Christmas tree

Image shows two men carrying a freshly cut Christmas tree through a forest clearing while a dog runs ahead of them.
Many families across the United States celebrate the holiday season with a Christmas tree. Although farmed and fake Christmas trees are full, symmetrical, and simple to get, they can be pricey. And rightly so – a lot of labor and materials go into producing those perfect boughs.But if you live near a national forest, there is another option – the $5 Christmas tree.These trees grow wild on…
#ChristmasTrees, #ChristmasTreePermits, #Christmas, #Holidays

12 days of Forest Service Christmas

Image shows Smokey Bear and several Forest Service employees riding and walking alongside a classic car decorated with Christmas lights. They're participating in a night-time holiday parade in a town square.
Join us and the Durand High School Madrigal Choir from Durand, Michigan, as we celebrate the holiday season with a reinterpretation of that Christmas classic, the 12 Days of Christmas! Sing along with the following lyrics: "On the 12th day of Christmas, the forest sent to me: 12 rangers ranging 11 elk herds grazing 10 goats a leaping 9 flowers blooming 8 mules a…
#Christmas, #Holidays

Plants of the Winter Solstice

USFS shield
By Larry Stritch Plants play an important role in many of our holiday traditions, including the season surrounding the winter solstice. Winter solstice, occurring on or around December 21st, is the first day of winter, the shortest day and the longest night of the year. To early cultures, the winter solstice was a day of both…
#Winter, #CapitolChristmasTree, #Christmas, #Holidays

Spread Christmas cheer, not forest pests

USFS shield
These Christmas trees found new purpose after the holidays as fish habitat in Lake Vesuvius, Ironton Ranger District, Wayne National Forest. USDA Forest Service photo. WISCONSIN—‘Tis the season to deck the halls with boughs of holly. We have spent time planning details for decorating our…
#Holidays, #Christmas, #Recycling, #ChristmasTrees, #Trees

HRM: Holiday admin leave

USFS shield
USDA Secretary Vilsack has authorized employees to use 8 hours of administrative leave between Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, and Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024.What You Need to KnowYou must obtain supervisor approval to use this administrative leave.You don’t need to use all 8 hours on the same day, but…
#Holidays