Idaho Ed News · Kaeden Lincoln · September 9, 2026
This year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas tree will come from Idaho’s Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. An essay contest for the state’s fourth graders will determine who lights the tree this Christmas season.
Idaho’s U.S. senators invite students to write an essay with the prompt: “Why are healthy forests and clean water in Idaho important?”
Sen. Mike Crapo’s team will select a winner, according to a press release from his office, providing the recipient and up to three family members with a round-trip flight to Washington, D.C., a hotel and meal stipends.
The winner will also read their essay during the tree-lighting ceremony.
Submissions must:
Be between 350-500 words
Be submitted by Sept. 30
Be an original essay written by the contest participant
Certify the essay is not written by AI
Have approval of a parent or guardian
Submit essays here . Students can also send handwritten essays to Crapo’s office at 251 E. Front Street, Suite 205, in Boise.