FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Teresa Salveta Phone: 231-876-0326 Fax: 231-876-0372
February 5, 2004
MICHIGAN ENVIROTHON CELEBRATES 10 YEARS
In 2004 the Michigan Envirothon will be celebrating 10 years of inspiring environmental stewardship in Michigan's high school students. The Michigan Envirothon was established in 1994 and is administered by the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts.
What is Envirothon?
The Envirothon began in 1979 as an "Environmental Olympics" competition in a single county in Pennsylvania. In 1988 the name was changed to Envirothon. The program has currently grown from three states in 1988 to forty-nine U.S. states, U.S. territories and Canadian provinces.
Envirothon teams consist of five high school students. The students work throughout the year studying seven subject areas. The seven subject areas covered are: Wildlife, Soils/Geology, Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Energy, Sustainable Agriculture, and an environmental issue which varies each year. The environmental issue for 2004 is Natural Resource Management in the Urban Environment. Envirothon teams must also undertake a Community Outreach Project each year. Students identify possible natural resource issues in their community, then develop a plan to address that issue through community education and hands-on problem solving.
Each May teams put their knowledge and community outreach skills to the test at the State Competition. This two-day event includes training, testing, and presentation of the Community Outreach Projects. Awards are given to the teams scoring highest on the projects and on tests on the seven subject areas. The team with the highest combined scores wins First Place in the State Competition and moves on to compete in the Canon International Envirothon Competition.
Why Envirothon?
By supporting local Envirothon teams you are planting a seed in the youth of today. The students in Envirothon today may go on to be future environmental professionals, producers, educators and legislators. Please consider being involved in Envirothon to benefit yourself, your District, your community, and also our future leaders, Michigan’s high school students. You can participate by becoming a team advisor, a Resource Professional, a volunteer, by helping to recruit new Envirothon Teams, or by financially supporting your local Envirothon Team. Call your local Conservation District or Teresa Salveta at the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts at 231-876-0326 to find an Envirothon team in your area. By involving yourself in the Michigan Envirothon you can help make the next ten years even more successful.
Upcoming Envirothon Events:
March 19 - Regional Envirothon event in Traverse City at the T.C. Public Library
March 25 - Regional Envirothon event in Lapeer County at the Kresge Environmental
Center
March 26 - Regional Envirothon event in Augusta at the Fort Custer Training Center
May 11-12 - State Envirothon Competition in Lake Ann at the Lake Ann Baptist Camp
July 26-August 1 - Canon International Envirothon Competition in Buckhannon, West
Virginia at the Wesleyan College