2005 Massachusetts Envirothon slated for May 12 at Essex Agricultural & Technical High School, Danvers

More than 300 Bay State high school students from some 45 public and private schools across the commonwealth are expected to compete in the eighteenth annual Massachusetts Envirothon on Thursday, May 12th at Essex Agricultural & Technical High School in Danvers.

At this outdoor event, teams of five students rotate through four “eco-stations” where they demonstrate their environmental knowledge through hands-on activities such as soil analysis and wildlife identification. Each team also gives a presentation on their research into the year’s designated current issue. This year’s current issue is “Protecting Cultural Landscapes.”

Teams prepare for the Envirothon throughout the year through classroom curricula and workshops. Each year teams focus on a different current issue that they research in their own community prior to the competition. Many teams also compete for Community Research and Community Service awards as well.

“Essex Agricultural & Technical High School is honored to be the site of this year's Envirothon. Because our school's vocational programs in agriculture, natural resources and environmental science so closely parallel the philosophy embedded in the Envirothon, we are making this an all school event," said Interim Superintendent Helen Hegarty.

“The Envirothon is America's leading natural resource education program for high school students,” said Cecil B. Currin, Massachusetts State Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, whose agency is one of 15 federal and state environmental agencies, conservation districts, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and businesses involved in organizing the event.

“It’s a great experience for students to represent their school or organization in a statewide competition testing their knowledge of aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and current environmental issues,” said Mass. Envirothon Committee Chair Clif Read of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Judges for the competition include more than 60 environmental professionals from government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private industry. Sponsors include the Massachusetts Environmental Trust and Massachusetts Electric Company.

The Envirothon program originated in 1979 in Pennsylvania as the Environmental Olympics. In 1988 the name was changed to the Envirothon and the program was expanded to a national program. The first Massachusetts Envirothon was hosted by the Worcester Conservation District in May 1988 with five teams participating.

The winning team from each state has the opportunity to represent their state in the Canon Envirothon, the North American competition.

For more information on how to get involved with the Massachusetts Envirothon, call 978-692-1904, or visit www.maenvirothon.org. 

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