Making Ornaments Help decorate the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree with thousands of handmade ornaments, big and small.
OVERVIEW
The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in Idaho has been selected to provide the 2026 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree to the west lawn of the Capitol and we need your help!We’re looking for 10,000 handmade ornaments from our local communities and partners to decorate the main tree with larger ornaments and the accompanying smaller trees for D.C. federal offices with smaller ornaments.
CRITERIA
The following is the criteria for what we can accept to be a part of the Capitol Christmas Tree Project, for more information and a downloadable criteria sheet, click here.
3,500 of our total ornaments will be used to decorate the large tree!
These MUST be:
· Brightly colored
· 9-12 inches in size
· Decorated both front AND back
· Weatherproof for all outdoor conditions
6,500 of our total ornaments will be used to decorate the smaller accompanying trees!
These MUST be:
· Brightly colored
· 4-9 inches in size
· Decorated both front AND back
· *These do not need to be weatherproof as they will decorate indoor trees
Ornaments we CANNOT accept:
· Ornaments including any logos, religious or political themes
· Divisive or offensive themes
· Anything made of sharp materials that could pose a danger or interfere with the tree lighting team
*Ornaments donated to this project cannot be returned
LOOKING FOR IDEAS?
Want to craft your own ornament(s) and send them in separately? No problem! Here are some ideas of kinds of themes we’re looking for:
· Capturing the spirit of our tree’s theme “Over the Rivers and Through the Woods”
· Uniquely Idaho
· What do you love about your local forest and river systems?
· Local fauna and flora
· Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl
For more ideas or to download our ornament criteria and idea sheets, click here!
DROP OFF/SHIPPING
The deadline to submit ornaments is September 1, 2026. Ornaments can be dropped off at any Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest Office or mailed to:
Attn: 2026 CCT Ornament Team
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest SO
1008 ID-64 Kamiah, ID 83536
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest and our partners will be hosting ornament-making events throughout the year. Check out the calendar below for upcoming events in your area!
Interested in hosting your own event? Fill out our interest form here and we’ll get in touch!
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS
SAF represents forestry professionals and advances sustainable management of forest resources through science, education, and technology. Learn more at eforester.org.
