Calling all Idaho 4th graders: Win a chance to light the U.S. Capitol tree

Attention, Idaho fourth graders: Your essay could earn you a front-row seat to one of the nation’s biggest Christmas traditions. This year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas tree will come from Idaho’s Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, and a statewide essay contest will determine who gets to light it.

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.