Wayne SWCD hosts students for Area 2 Envirothon
The Envirothon, a competitive, academic, outdoor team event for high school students, was hosted recently by the Wayne Soil and Water Conservation District. More than 40 teams participated.
In late April students, advisers and volunteers from Northeast Ohio gathered at the Kidron Community Center and Park to experience a SWCD educational tradition known as the Envirothon, hosted by the Wayne Soil and Water Conservation District.
The Envirothon is a competitive, academic, outdoor team event for high school students that tests their knowledge in five areas: Aquatic Ecology, Current Environmental Issues (in 2024 the CEI is Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future), Forestry, Soils and Wildlife. Teams consisted of five members from the same school, and though each student contributes his or her personal best, the score that counts at the end of the day is the team score. An adult adviser must accompany the team but is not permitted to assist the team during competition.
Wayne SWCD started planning for this one-day event nearly a year ago. As the stages of the planning proceeded, it all came together on a day where close to 300 were in attendance, with 43 high school teams from 14 counties and 24 different schools. In addition, there were 20 advisers competing on teams, which brings the total team count up to 48.
Wayne SWCD provided a free box of Lerch’s doughnuts to each team, lunch to everyone served by JW Concessions and K-Stone Concessions, an advisers tour/trip to the local Lehman’s Store and more, thanks to many sponsors. Awards were donated by The Romich Foundation Makerspace for the top four teams going to the State Envirothon, as well as the Eco-Station winners. Each of the top four teams’ registration cost of $275 to the state competition also was sponsored.
The top four teams from Area 2 advancing to the state competition June 3-5 at Hocking College are as follows:
—Boardman High, 95 points, first place.
—Southeast High, 89 points, second place: Boardman Channel Cats from Mahoning County, Boardman HS, adviser Heather Moran.
—Kent Roosevelt High, 88 points, third place.
—Columbiana High, 87 points, fourth place.
Complete team results, tests and answers, sponsor lists, photos and more can be found online at www.wayneswcd.org/home/education/envirothon. The Envirothon event would not be possible if not for sponsors, partner agencies, community support and volunteers. Next year Richland SWCD will host the 2025 Area 2 Envirothon.