(Senator Crapo’s Office, September 15, 2026)
Last week, Senator Jim Risch and I launched a statewide contestto help select one Idaho student to assist in powering the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree this December.
Tradition holds that one youth from the state providing the tree serves as the Tree Lighting Helper during an annual ceremony formally illuminating the tree, along with the Speaker of the House and other public officials. Idaho’s Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests will provide the 2026 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, which will stand on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
Idaho’s fourth graders have a special opportunity to share what the Gem State’s forests and clean water mean to them while competing for the chance to help light the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.
More details to enter the contest are below and can be found on my website via a news release HERE or through the FAQ page HERE.
In line with the Every Kid Outdoors program, the competition is open to Idaho fourth-grade students and will run from Tuesday, September 8, 2026, through Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Submissions must be between 350-500 words, and answer the prompt, “Why are healthy forests and clean water in Idaho important?” The prompt follows this year’s Christmas theme, “Over the Rivers and Through the Woods.”
All submissions must:
- adhere to the word limit (350-500 words),
- be received by the closing date of the contest,
- be an original essay written by the contest participant,
- certify the essay is not originated by AI and
- have approval of a parent or guardian to participate.
The winner of the essay contest, along with three family members, will be flown roundtrip to Washington, D.C., with hotel accommodations and a stipend for meals provided. Other expenses are at the expense of the winner. The essay winner must be willing to read the essay at the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony the first week of December, which is live-streamed and available for media broadcast.
Submission form is available at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/YouthTreeLighter.
All students are encouraged to create and submit ornaments that will decorate the People’s Tree in Washington, D.C., this holiday season. For more information, please visit https://www.uscapitolchristmastree.com/make-an-ornament/.
