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The Envirothon is a problem-solving, hands-on natural resources education program for high school students. Teams of five students work and study under guidance of local and regional natural resource professionals to hone their knowledge of Maryland's natural resources and conservation efforts. The structure of the Envirothon program also encourages development of students problem solving, communications, team building, and decision making skills.
Each year the Talbot Soil Conservation District (SCD) supports local schools who participate in the Maryland Envirothon program. For those who haven't worked with the program before, the Maryland Envirothon is an environmental competition, which is available for 9th to 12th grade students who compete as a 4-5 person team against other schools/teams from around Maryland.
The competition focuses on four key environmental topics, aquatics, forestry, soils and wildlife. Our region hosts a regional Envirothon competition, which covers all counties between Kent and Wicomico. Typically we host a one day in-person training, followed by a one day in-person competition. For 2024, we plan to have two training sessions held virtually. Two topics will be highlighted each evening for approximately 30 minutes, then followed up with 15 minutes Q&A with presenters. The presenters will be from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Forestry Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The regional competition will be held in-person at either Tuckahoe State Park or Martinek State Park, with a tentative date T.B.D. (rain date T.B.D.). Winning teams from each county then compete at a one day competition later in the spring. Details are still being worked out.
For more information, visit http://www.mdenvirothon.org.
Local Maryland Envirothon committee member- Shawn Smith, District Manager, shawn.smith@maryland.gov.