Howard Soil Conservation District
14735 Frederick Road
Cooksville, MD 21723
410-313-0680
Envirothon
The Envirothon is a competition for high school students that tests their knowledge and promotes the use of problem solving skills in the areas of natural resources.
The competition consists of five test stations. These test stations cover the natural resource areas of:
• Soils
• Forestry
• Aquatics
• Wildlife
• Current Environmental Issue
The teams are made up of five members and an alternate, grades 9 through 12, from Howard County. The teams study through the school year preparing for the Envirothon.
Individuals from public agencies as well as the private sector, in the fields of forestry, wildlife, soils, aquatics and the current environmental issue, serve as resources for the teams. These resource people offer their expertise and time to the students to help them get a better understanding of the environment around them.As a team the students compete by applying their knowledge, communication and problem solving skills. The teams are scored at each station and the team with the highest cumulative score advances to the state competition. This two-day event allows students to gain additional training as well as share their knowledge with their peers. Teams come from nineteen counties to participate in the Maryland Envirothon.
The winning team from the state competition then represents Maryland at the NCE Envirothon. This is a five-day event in which students once again are able to increase their knowledge and skills.
Smithfield Foods is a sponsor of the NCF Envirothon and funded cash prizes are awarded as follows:
$3,000 per student for 1st place
$2,000 per student for 2nd place
$1,000 per student for 3rd place
Howard County not only offers this opportunity to high school students but also to middle school students. The Howard SCD Junior Envirothon, modeled after the Envirothon, consists of four hands on stations:
• Soils
• Forestry
• Wildlife
• Aquatics
This event is activity based. Not only are the students scored on the correct answer and how they reach it, but also how they work as a team. The Howard County Junior Envirothon encourages teamwork as the students work together to solve problems and complete activities.
The Envirothon started in one Pennsylvania county back in 1979. Today it has reached to 52 states/US territories, 10 Canadian Provinces and China.
The Envirothon creates an opportunity for today’s youth, tomorrow’s leaders to come together and build relationships as well as further their knowledge and skills. It fosters their appreciation and respect for the environment.
If you are interested in participating or have any questions concerning the Envirothon, or Junior Envirothon, please contact Kristal McCormick, Howard County Envirothon Coordinator, by phone (410) 313-0657 or email kmccormick@howardcountymd.gov.
