Maryland Teens Get Back to Nature to Prepare for First Round of Environmental Education Competitions

Students studying environmental issues and preparing for the Envirothon. (Photo by Dan Bard)

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Hundreds of Maryland’s brightest high school students are leaving the classroom and heading for the hills, streams, woods and fields of Maryland’s countryside to compete in the first round of qualifying heats leading up to the 2013 North American Envirothon, North America’s largest high school environmental education competition.

“Teens competing in the Envirothon represent the future of Maryland agriculture and our natural resources protection efforts,” said Maryland Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. “The program provides teens with an exceptional opportunity to work with environmental experts in the field to learn about Maryland’s natural resources.”

Students participating in the Envirothon have been studying the state’s natural resources since September. As part of their extracurricular training, 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. The program also focuses on a special environmental issue that changes from year to year. This year’s environmental issue is sustainable rangeland management.

Teams compete by applying their knowledge and problem-solving skills in these natural resource areas. The county team with the highest cumulative total wins the local or regional competition and advances to the Maryland Envirothon scheduled for June 19 and 20, at the Western Maryland 4-H Education Center in Garrett County. The winner of the Maryland Envirothon will represent the state later this summer at the 2013 North American Envirothon scheduled for August 4-9 at Montana State University where more than 250 teenagers from the United States and Canada will compete for $100,000 in scholarships and prizes.

The Envirothon is sponsored by Maryland’s soil conservation districts and the State Soil Conservation Committee and supported by other state and federal programs. Below are the dates and contacts for upcoming county Envirothon competitions.

Allegany Envirothon Competition
Date: May 1, 2013
Place: Rocky Gap State Park
Contact: Craig Hartsock, 301-777-1747, ext. 3

Anne Arundel Envirothon Competition
Date: April 17, 2013
Place: Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center
Contact: Will Williams, Arlington Echo, 410-222-3822

Baltimore County Envirothon Competition
Date: April 19, 2013
Place: Oregon Ridge Lodge
Contact: Jim Ensor, Baltimore County Soil Conservation District, (410) 527-5920, ext. 3

Calvert Envirothon Competition
Date: May 1, 2013
Place: King’s Landing Park
Contact: Linda Subda, 410-535-2960

Carroll Envirothon Competition
Date: April 24, 2013
Place: Hashawha/Bear Branch Center
Contact: Ed Null, Carroll Soil Conservation District, (410) 848-8200, ext. 3

Cecil Envirothon Competition
Date: May 1, 2013
Place: Fair Hill Nature Center
Contact: Charles Hayes, Cecil Soil Conservation District, (410) 398-4411, ext. 3

Charles Envirothon Competition
Date: April 23, 2013
Place: Gilbert Run Park
Contact: Dee Dee Saunders, Charles Soil Conservation District, (301) 934-9588, ext. 3

Eastern Shore Envirothon
Date: May 7, 2013
Counties: Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Talbot and Worcester counties
Place: Tuckahoe State Park
Contact: Craig Zinter, Talbot Soil Conservation District, 410-822-1577, ext. 3

Frederick County Envirothon Competition
Date: April 23, 2013
Place: Cunningham Falls State Park
Contact: Terry Welsh, 301-695-2803, ext. 3 or Barry Burch, Walkersville High School, 240-215-5004

Garrett Envirothon Competition
Date: April 30, 2013
Place: Western Maryland 4-H Education Center, Bittinger
Contact: Shaun Sanders, Garrett Soil Conservation District, 301-334-6950, ext. 3

Harford Envirothon Competition
Date: May 1, 2013
Location: Anita Leight Estuary Center
Contact: Patrick Jones, 410-838-6181, ext. 3

Howard Envirothon Competition
Date: May 1, 2013
Place: Howard County Conservancy’s Mount Pleasant Farm, Woodstock.
Contact: Kristal M. McCormick, Howard Soil Conservation District, (410) 489-7987

Montgomery Envirothon Competition
Date: April 24, 2013
Place: Agricultural History Farm Park
Contact: David Plummer, Montgomery Soil Conservation District, (301) 590-2855

Prince George’s Envirothon Competition
Date: April 24, 2013
Place: William S. Schmidt Center
Contact: Debbie Sandlin, Prince George’s Soil Conservation District, (301) 574-5162, ext. 3

St. Mary’s Envirothon Competition
Date: April 24, 2013
Place: Robert and Lillian Jarboe Farm
Contact: Hayley Carter, St. Mary’s Soil Conservation District, (301) 475-8402, ext. 3

Washington County Envirothon Competition
Date: April 19, 2013
Place: Fairview Outdoor School
Contact: Elmer Weibley or Ginger Noble, Washington County Soil Conservation District, (301)797-6821, ext. 3.

##