Welcome to Maine Envirothon

We are currently inviting you and your students to participate in the 2008 Maine Envirothon. Last year, we had over 50 teams from 32 Maine high schools registered for this program. We look forward to seeing these veteran schools again in 2008 and welcome new schools to take part in this valuable learning experience.

Envirothon is a state- and nation-wide environmental competition where high school students test their knowledge of natural resources and current environmental issues. Teams consisting of 3-5 students compete first at a regional level, answering questions and solving hands-on problems at five stations: Wildlife, Water/Aquatics, Forestry, Soils, and a Current Natural Resource Issue. This year’s current issue is Recreational Impacts on Natural Resources. The top three teams from each Regional Envirothon then compete at the State Finals at Unity College May 29th. The state’s winning team will travel to Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona July 28 - August 3, 2008 for the International Competition.

Envirothon is an academic program that is aligned with the Maine Learning Results. As well as advising teams for competition, teachers throughout Maine successfully incorporate Envirothon concepts and hands-on activities into their science curricula. The program raises students’ awareness of local and national environmental issues. Envirothon integrates math, language arts, cultural land-use history, and science in ways unique to the field. Students build critical thinking and decision-making skills as they practice solving real environmental problems.

In addition to learning about the environment, applying new knowledge, collaborating to address natural resource issues, and meeting young environmentalists from around the state and nation, Maine participants are eligible for two $2000 scholarship from the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture at the University of Maine, Orono. Winners of the National Envirothon receive individual college scholarships valued at over $1000. Through this program, students have an opportunity to meet and learn from state soil scientists, biologists, foresters, and other natural resource professionals.

We greatly appreciate advisors’ interest in natural resources, commitment to environmental education, and time spent preparing teams for competition. As an Envirothon team advisor, it is not necessary that you be an expert in environmental areas nor be a full time teacher. Natural resource professionals from Maine’s 16 Soil and Water Conservation Districts may be available to assist teams with resource materials and preparation. If you are interested in the program, but are not yet ready to form a team for competition, please contact us for more information and an opportunity to attend a preparatory Mock Envirothon hands-on training session. Please note that advisors can be teachers, parents, and/or community members.

How to Register

To register your team for the 2008 competition you need to complete the online registration form. The deadline for registration is March 15, 2008. To receive your coveted Maine Envirothon team t-shirts, we need registration by March 1, 2008. Once your team is registered, we will send you additional information and a resource packet to guide preparation for the Regional Envirothon. You will be notified about workshops and/or hands-on training sessions for your team. Please register as soon as possible to ensure you receive this information with plenty of time to study and practice. However, there will be NO REFUNDS or rollovers to future Envirothons once a team has registered if the team has to cancel.

2008 Envirothon Regional Competitions

• Southern Regional, April 30, Wells Reserve, Wells
• Down East Regional, May 1, Greenland Point, Princeton
• Mid Coast Regional, May 2, Sennebec Lake Campground, Appleton
• Western Regional, May 15, Lakeview Farm, Wilton
• Northern Regional, May 15, Tall Timber Lodge, Drew Lake, New Limerick
• Central Regional, May 16, Demonstration Forrest, Williamsburg Township

2008 State and North American Competitions:

• Maine Envirothon: May 29, Unity College, Unity
• Canon Envirothon: July 28 - August 3, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ

Soil and Water Conservation District in Maine prohibit discrimination in the programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status.