Announcing the 28th Annual California Envirothon Competition
The California Envirothon Steering Committee is pleased to announce the 28th annual competition at the Springbrook Clubhouse in Riverside on March 28th. As a special project of the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, the first event was held in 1992.
California Envirothon (a nonprofit) is an annual competitive natural resources education program for high school students (9th – 12th grade). It emphasizes study in the disciplines of soils, forestry, aquatic ecology, and wildlife. Student teams rotate to field stations featuring testing on each of these disciplines. In addition, teams prepare an orals presentation on the nationally designated natural resources theme. We also actively recruit student teams from 4-H, FFA, and tribal schools. For more detailed information, please visit their website.
This year’s theme is “Water Resources Management: Local Control and Local Solutions.” They create a problem solving scenario to help students critically think, learn and understand how water is managed in California and how the local Resource Conservation District (RCD) system works to address integrated water management challenges. Student teams present their collective solutions and ideas in an oral presentation to a panel of judges. The judges are a select group of resource professionals (e.g., RCDs, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Forest Service, state/local agency, etc.).
Each team of five students works diligently throughout the school year with a teacher/advisor to gain knowledge through the California Envirothon website study links. We feature specific study links associated with the current issues scenario. Local RCDs have helped with organizing special workshops to further students’ hands on knowledge on topics such as soils.
Teams placing in the individual field station testing on resource disciplines, receive medallions and certificates. The winning team is awarded with the colossal California Envirothon trophy. They later add an inscribed plaque to record the winning school, team’s name, and year. Schools often place this trophy on display in a prominent location.
The winning California Envirothon team advances to the National Conservation Foundation Envirothon competition. The 2020 national event will be at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, on July 26 – August 1. California’s Envirothon teams have placed quite well at the nationals.
California Envirothon and CARCD invites RCDs to join on March 28th. RCDs can also observe the event to spark interest in forming local California Envirothon teams and competing next year! They are keen to grow California Envirothon statewide and hold future regional competitions, culminating in a statewide final event. Or, to come and offer them a helping hand. They welcome volunteers!
California Envirothon encourages RCDs to share this program with area teachers as a way to promote their district’s conservation and education goals. The California Envirothon Steering Committee can provide guidance and information to assist local RCDs and schools interested in joining California Envirothon.
Please email Nancy Helsley, Secretary, California Envirothon Steering Committee, at helsleyn@gmail.com, if interested in joining or would like more information.