The ENVIROTHON is designed to stimulate,
reinforce and enhance interest in the environment and natural resources
among high school students.
The Envirothon tests students' knowledge of soils,
forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology and current environmental issues. In
addition, the Envirothon encourages cooperative decision-making and team
building. While each student on an Envirothon team is challenged to
contribute his or her personal best, the score that counts at the end of
an Envirothon is the team score.
A team consists of five students, all from the same high
school. An adult advisor (or advisors) must accompany the team, but is not
permitted to assist the team during the competition.
Five "Area Envirothons" are conducted around
Ohio late each spring. The top four teams from each of these Area
competitions progress to the Ohio Envirothon in June. In 1996 the Ohio
Envirothon was expanded to a 2-day event, incorporating a team
presentation requirement that further challenges all participating
students. The state level Ohio Envirothon is held in a different part of
Ohio each year. The top-scoring team in the Ohio Envirothon is eligible to
compete in the Canon Envirothon,
hosted by a different state or Canadian province every year.
In Ohio, the Envirothon is sponsored by the Ohio
Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (OFSWCD) in
cooperation with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Natural
resource and environmental specialists from many agencies, organizations,
colleges, universities, park districts and businesses devise the
Envirothon questions and staff the various test stations.
The Ohio Envirothon is financed by grants, donations
from businesses and through contributions to the Don Rehl Memorial
Envirothon Fund. Many local businesses also provide services and products
in support of Area and Ohio Envirothons.
