Envirothon has a powerful impact on all who participate in it because it educates students on important topics and prepares them for the future of the Earth. Competitions, club meetings, and studying make up the fun, yet educational club.
“It is a team-based environmental competition that’s run by the Soil and Water Conservation Districts,” Envirothon coach Kimerblee Jancaitis said. “Everyone in the United States lives in a Soil and Water Conservation District, similar to how sports are in districts, but they don’t overlap.”
Students learn about the environment in which they live, in five different categories: soil, water, forestry, wildlife, and a special topic that is unique every year. Learning about these topics educates students on their everyday environment and the world around them.
“I learned things about the environment that I never actually knew,” junior Lilith Zaleski said. “I feel like it’s good to be educated about stuff that other people aren’t.”
Students in Envirothon compete on their knowledge in competitions throughout regional and state competitions. They battle against other districts on the five topics they learned about during club meetings.
“Students compete in a group of five, and they rotate through six stations,” Jancaitis said. “They will go to five topic stations, where they will get a five to eight-page test. That test will cover skills, knowledge, all sorts of things.”
Envirothon has been highly successful in competitions, with their most recent win being April 19, placing first overall at the State 4-H Wildlife and Habitat Education Program (WHEP). Competition allows a motivation to learn and study the topics, giving students more power over their knowledge.
“When we win, I think it shows how hard our students work, but also how important it is to them,” Jancaitis said. “We have had a really good run for a long time of doing well, which I think gives us momentum.”
Envirothon can have a lasting impact on those who participate by opening the opportunity to learn about real-world problems. Pollution, protecting wildlife, and more is all studied, ensuring students know how to properly care for their world.
“It’s important to know about the environment and the world around you,” junior Delilah Thomas said. “Envirothon is really a way for you to learn about that.”
