It is official! The U.S. Forest Service has announced that our very own Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests has been selected to provide the 2026 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.
Known affectionately as “The People’s Tree,” this holiday centerpiece will travel more than 2,000 miles from the rugged mountains and deep canyons of north-central Idaho straight to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Even more special? This beautiful Idaho tree will stand tall as the nation celebrates its landmark 250th anniversary.
For those of us at the Clearwater Basin Collaborative, this is an incredible honor. For years, our working groups have sat down at the table together—bringing together conservationists, timber industry representatives, local government, and tribal partners—to find balanced solutions that protect and restore these incredible lands. Seeing this landscape recognized on a national stage highlights the vibrant, working natural resource heritage we love and steward.
The Magnitude of the Journey
To give you an idea of the scale of this project, here is what it takes to bring a piece of Idaho to the heart of our nation’s capital:
-
4+ Million Acres: The vast expanse of local public lands the Forest Service is searching to find the perfect candidate.
-
10,000 Handmade Ornaments: The massive community goal to decorate the main tree and smaller companion trees inside federal offices.
-
50 Custom Tree Skirts: Beautifully crafted, handmade skirts to accompany smaller trees to prominent D.C. spaces.
-
2,000+ Miles: The cross-country “whistlestop tour” where the tree will visit communities locally and nationally before arriving in D.C.
We Need Your Help: Let’s Make 10,000 Ornaments!
A tree this magnificent can’t go to Washington bare. It needs to tell the story of north-central Idaho—our rich ecology, our history, and our deep community roots.
The Forest Service is rallying communities to create 10,000 handmade ornaments, and the CBC is stepping up to help lead the charge. This is an all-hands-on-deck effort for schools, civic groups, artists, and families.
Whether you are great with a paintbrush, skilled at woodworking, or just want to gather your family around the kitchen table to craft, your hands can help decorate the nation’s tree. We want these ornaments to reflect the wild rivers, the towering trees, the wildlife, and the diverse cultures that make the Clearwater Basin so unique.
Get Involved with CBC
Over the next few months, we will be supporting community ornament-making workshops across the region. It is a fantastic way to celebrate our public lands and show the rest of the country the incredible community spirit we have right here at home.
Stay tuned on the Nez -Clear National Forest Facebook page for upcoming workshop dates, drop-off locations, and design guidelines for the ornaments. Let’s show the nation what the Clearwater Basin can do when we work together!