MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Gov. Tony Evers announced "125 Years of Wisconsin’s State Parks" as the theme for the 2024 State Capitol Holiday Tree in a Thursday, Nov. 14 letter to students and educators.

Within the letter, he invited students and families to create handmade ornaments reflecting what Wisconsin’s natural spaces mean to them ahead of 2025 marking 125 years of Wisconsin's state parks. By involving students in creating ornaments, the initiative seeks to engage the community in reflecting on the importance of Wisconsin's park system.

"To engage with this theme, I encourage students to make ornaments that reflect what Wisconsin’s natural spaces mean to them and how Wisconsin’s park system reflects who we are as a state and our shared history," Gov. Evers wrote.

The tree, donated by Rick Burke and his family from Rhinelander, will be displayed in the Capitol rotunda throughout the holiday season. Students are asked to mail ornaments by Friday, Nov. 22. They are also invited to attend the tree lighting ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 5 at noon.

Students and families can participate by crafting ornaments from non-breakable materials, ideally 4 to 6 inches in size, with a ten-inch loop for hanging. Ornaments should be mailed by Friday, Nov. 22, to:

Emily Gorman
Wisconsin Department of Administration
Division of Facilities and Transportation Services
17 West Main Street, Suite 119
Madison, WI 53703

The full letter from Gov. Evers can be read below: