Maryland Teens Get Ready for First Round of Environmental Education Competitions

ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 15, 2010) – Across Maryland, teenagers are grabbing their binoculars, pulling on their waterproof boots, and brushing up on their soils as they prepare for the first round of qualifying heats leading up to the 2010 Canon Envirothon.  The Canon Envirothon is North America’s largest environmental education competition for high school students.

“We are excited to get young people out of the classroom and down on the farm to learn about natural resources firsthand,” said Maryland Agriculture Secretary Earl F. Hance.  “Knowing the importance of the South American rain forest is great, but knowing about the threats to natural resources in your backyard is truly useful,” he added.  “These young people will soon be given the reins and called upon to develop solutions to many of the environmental concerns that we face here at home.  I am very impressed with their talent and dedication to learning about Maryland’s natural resources.”

Students participating in the Envirothon have been studying the state’s natural resources all year.  During their training, the teenagers identify and categorize living resources, perform soil surveys, estimate wood yield from trees, and solve other complex natural resource issues.  They receive hands-on instruction from soil scientists, wildlife specialists, foresters and environmental engineers from local, state and federal agencies as well as private environmental organizations.

Teams compete by applying their knowledge and problem-solving skills to environmental challenges. The county team with the highest cumulative total wins the local or regional competition and advances to the Maryland Envirothon scheduled for June 24-25, 2010 at the William S. Schmidt Outdoor Education Center in Prince George’s County.  The winner of the Maryland Envirothon represents the state at the 2010 Canon Envirothon.  More than 300 of the brightest teenagers from the United States and Canada will participate in this rigorous competition slated for later this summer at the University of California, Fresno.

Envirothon is sponsored by Maryland’s soil conservation districts and the State Soil Conservation Committee. The dates and contacts for upcoming county Envirothon competitions are listed below.  They are also available at www.mascd.net/envirothon.

Allegany Envirothon Competition

Date:  May 4, 2010

Place:  Rocky Gap State Park

Contact:  Craig Hartsock, Allegany Soil Conservation District, 301-777-1747, ext. 3

Anne Arundel Envirothon Competition

Date:  April 27, 2010

Place:  To be determined.

Contact:  John Czajkowski, Anne Arundel Soil Conservation District, (410) 571-6757

Baltimore County Envirothon Competition

Date:   April 20, 2010 (tentative)

Place:  To be determined.

Contact:  Jim Ensor, Baltimore County  Soil Conservation District, (410) 666-1188

Calvert Envirothon Competition

Date:   May 18, 2010

Place:  King’s Landing Park

Contact:  Linda Subda, Calvert County Public Schools, (410) 535-2960

Carroll Envirothon Competition

Date:  April 21, 2010

Place:  To be determined.

Contact:  Ed Null, Carroll Soil Conservation District, (410) 848-8200

Charles Envirothon Competition

Date:  April 27, 2010

Place:  Gilbert Run Park

Contact:  Dee Dee Saunders, Charles Soil Conservation District, (301) 934-9588

Dorchester Envirothon Competition

Date:  April 28, 2010

Place:  Eastern Shore Regional Envirothon, University of Maryland Horn Point Laboratory

Contact:  Jim Newcomb, Dorchester Soil Conservation District, (410) 228-5640

Frederick Envirothon Competition       

Date:   April 27, 2010

Place:  To be determined.

Contact:  Barry Burch,  Frederick Soil Conservation District, (301) 695-2803

Garrett Envirothon Competition

Date:  May 13, 2010

Place:  To be determined

Contact:  Bruce Taliaferro or Shaun Sanders,  (301) 746-8461

Harford Envirothon Competition

Date:  April 29, 2010

Location:  Broad Creek Boy Scout Camp

Contact:  Peggy Jagelski, Patrick Jones, Harford Soil Conservation District, (410) 838-6181

Howard Envirothon Competition

Date:   April 15, 2010 (tentative)

Place:  To be determined.

Contact:  Kristal M. McCormick, Howard Soil Conservation District, (410) 489-7987

Kent Envirothon Competition

Date:  April 28, 2010

Place:  Eastern Shore Regional Envirothon,  University of Maryland Horn Point Laboratory

Contact:  Karen Miller, Kent Soil Conservation District, (410) 778-5150

Montgomery Envirothon Competition

Date:   April 20, 2010

Place:  Agricultural History Farm Park

Contact:  Brian Taylor, Montgomery Soil Conservation District, (301) 590-2852

Queen Anne’s Envirothon Competition

Date:  April 28, 2010

Place:  Eastern Shore Regional Envirothon,  University of Maryland Horn Point Laboratory

Contact:  Toni Riggi, , 410-758-3136, ext. 3

St. Mary’s Envirothon Competition

Date:  April 29, 2010

Place:  To be determined

Contact:  Bruce Young, St. Mary’s Soil Conservation District, (301) 475-8402

Somerset Envirothon Competition

Date:  April 28, 2010

Place:  Eastern Shore Regional Envirothon,  University of Maryland Horn Point Laboratory

Contact:  Larry Fykes, Somerset Soil Conservation District, (410) 651-1575

Talbot Envirothon Competition

Date:   April 28, 2010

Place:  Eastern Shore Regional Envirothon,  University of Maryland Horn Point Laboratory

Contact:  Craig Zinter, Talbot Soil Conservation District, (410) 822-1577

Washington County Envirothon Competition

Date:  April 16, 2010

Place:  Claud Kitchens Outdoor School at Fairview

Contact:  Ginger Noble, Washington County Soil Conservation District, (301)797-6821

Wicomico Envirothon Competition   

Date:   April 28, 2010

Place:  Eastern Shore Regional Envirothon,  University of Maryland Horn Point Laboratory

Contact:  Kevin Keenan, Wicomico Soil Conservation District, (410) 546-4777

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