What is the Envirothon?
The ENVIROTHON is designed to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest in the environment and natural resources among high school students. A competitive outdoor team event, the Envirothon offers a unique and enjoyable learning experience. A team consists of 5 students, all from the same high school. An adult advisor (or advisors) must accompany the team, but is not permitted to assist the team during the competition.
The Envirothon tests students' knowledge of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology and current environmental issues. In addition, the Envirothon encourages cooperative decision-making and team building. While each student on an Envirothon team is challenged to contribute his or her personal best, the score that counts at the end of an Envirothon is the team score.
Five "Area Envirothons" are conducted around Ohio late each spring. The top four teams from each of these Area competitions progress to the Ohio Envirothon in June. In 1996 the Ohio Envirothon was expanded to a 2-day event, incorporating a team presentation requirement that further challenges all participating students. The state level Ohio Envirothon is held in a different part of Ohio each year. The top-scoring team in the Ohio Envirothon is eligible to compete in the Canon Envirothon, hosted by a different state or Canadian Province every year.
In Ohio, the Envirothon is sponsored by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (OFSWCD) in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Natural resource and environmental specialists from many agencies, organizations, colleges, universities, park districts and businesses devise the Envirothon questions and staff the various test stations.
The Ohio Envirothon is financed by grants, donations from businesses and through contributions to the Don Rehl Memorial Envirothon Fund. Many local businesses also provide services and products in support of Area and Ohio Envirothons.