2014 Stewardship Challenge Participants
with Dave Brandt during natural resource tour.
What is the Envirothon?
The Envirothon is an exciting, fun way for high school
students to learn about the environment. It combines
in-class curriculum with hands-on field experiences,
while demonstrating the role people have in important
environmental issues, such as forestry and wildlife
management, water quality, and soil erosion.
At the completion of the year-long learning process, the
Envirothon conducts a series of competitions where
students are tested on five subjects: soil, aquatics,
wildlife, forestry and a specific environmental issue,
which changes from year to year.
The Envirothon
Experience
• Enhances a student’s critical thinking and problem
solving skills
• Allows students to share lifestyles and stories with
other youth
• Gives students the ability to be role models in their
community
• Prepares the students for future careers in natural
resources areas
Areas of Study
Aquatics
The students learn about watersheds, water quality and
aquatic organisms. They will also be familiar with major
methods and laws used to protect water quality and
utilize this information to make management decisions to
improve the quality of water in a given situation.
Forestry
The students will learn to understand basic forest
management concepts and tools such as: how various
silvicultural practices are utilized, the use of tree
measuring devices, and best management practices. They
will also understand forest ecology concepts and factors
affecting them.
Soils
Students will learn to determine basic soil properties
and limitations, such as mottling and permeability. They
will be able to identify types of soil erosion and
discuss methods for reducing erosion. They will be able
to discuss how soil is a factor in, or impacted by
non-point source pollution.
Wildlife
In this subject, the students will learn to
describe the major factors affecting threatened and
endangered species and methods used to improve the
populations of these species. They will also be able to
discuss various ways the public and wildlife managers
can help in the protection, conservation, management,
and enhancement of wildlife populations.
5th
Category Topic - "Renewable Energy for a
Sustainable Future"
Students will learn about the different sources of
renewable energy; the challenges facing the transition
from traditional fossil fuels to renewables; the
environmental, economic and social impacts of energy
consumption; and how individuals can affect change in
their communities.
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