United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Massachusetts Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content





High school students from across the Bay State compete at 19th annual Massachusetts Envirothon

Massachusetts Envirothon 2006 participants(May 11, 2006) UXBRIDGE, Mass. -- Nearly 300 Bay State high school students from 40 public and private schools across the commonwealth, along with nearly 200 coaches, judges and volunteers, converged on the Blackstone River Canal and Heritage State Park in Uxbridge today for the 19th annual Massachusetts Envirothon, a statewide competition that tests students’ knowledge of aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and environmental issues.

At the event, teams of five students rotate through four stations where they demonstrate their environmental knowledge through hands-on activities. Each team also gives a presentation on their research into a designated current environmental issue. This year’s current issue is “Acting Locally for Climate Protection.”

This year’s winners were:

Overall winners: 4-H Bristol CountyOverall Score

  • 1st Place - 4-H Bristol County Envirothon Team, Berkley
  • 2nd Place - Lexington High School
  • 3rd Place - Acton-Boxborough Regional High School

Acting Locally for Climate Protection Presentation

  • 1st Place - 4-H Bristol County Envirothon Team
  • 2nd Place - Quabbin Regional High School, Barre
  • 3rd Place - Lexington High School
  • 4th Place (tie) - Lawrence Academy, Groton and Leicester High School
  • 5th Place (tie) - Acton-Boxborough Regional High School and Uxbridge High School

An Envirothon participant at the Forested Grove ecostation.Forested Grove Ecostation

  • 1st Place - Lexington High School
  • 2nd Place - 4-H Bristol County Envirothon Team, Berkley
  • 3rd Place - Essex Agricultural & Technical High, Danvers
  • 4th Place - Lawrence Academy, Groton
  • 5th Place - Pioneer Valley Regional School, Northfield

Grass Roots Ecostation

  • 1st Place - 4-H Bristol County Envirothon Team, Berkley
  • 2nd Place - Acton-Boxborough Regional High School
  • 3rd Place (tie) - Northampton High School, Bedford High School and Mass. Academy of Math & Science, Worcester
  • 4th Place - Lexington High School
  • 5th Place - Lawrence Academy, Groton An Envirothon team analyzes soil at the Grass Roots ecostation.

Pond/Shore Ecostation

  • 1st Place (tie) - Tantasqua Reg. Senior High School, Fiskdale and Acton-Boxborough Reg. High School
  • 2nd Place (tie) - Lexington High School and Somerset High School Envirothon Team
  • 3rd Place - Essex Agricultural & Technical High, Danvers
  • 4th Place - Quabbin Regional High School, Barre
  • 5th Place - Northbridge High School

Riverbend Ecostation

  • 1st Place - 4-H Bristol County Envirothon Team, Berkley
  • 2nd Place (tie) - Lexington High School, Chelmsford High School, Uxbridge High School and Lawrence Academy, Groton
  • 3rd Place (tie) - Essex Agricultural & Technical High, Danvers and Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School
  • 4th Place - Quabbin Regional High School, Barre
  • 5th Place - North Quincy High School

Rookie of the Year

  • Tantasqua Regional Senior High School, Fiskdale

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.

“I am encouraged by the interest in the environment these students have displayed. Educating our youth on the importance of our natural resources is critical for the future,” said Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental Affairs Stephen Pritchard.

“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.

“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.

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 National Grid 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. Massachusetts held its first competitive event in May 1988 with five teams participating.

The overall winning team will have the opportunity to represent Massachusetts at the North American competition, the 2006 Canon Envirothon to be held in Manitoba, Canada in July.
For more information on how to get involved with the Massachusetts Envirothon, call 978-692-1904, or visit www.maenvirothon.org.

< Back to the Conservation Connection...