Environmental Education: 2013 Maryland High School Envirothon Scheduled for June 19-20 Winning Teams from 17 Maryland Counties to Compete in Garrett County

Students competing in previous Envirothons.

(ANNAPOLIS) – While most high school students have wrapped up final exams and tossed their backpacks aside, more than 100 of Maryland’s brightest teenagers will be competing at the 23rd annual Maryland Envirothon on June 19 and 20 in northeastern Garrett County. The Envirothon is a rigorous two-day, outdoor natural resources competition for teens passionate about the outdoors and the environment. Teams will compete in five areas of environmental studies: soil/land use, aquatics ecology, forestry, wildlife, and this year’s environmental issue: sustainable rangeland management. The winning team will represent Maryland at the North American Envirothon in Bozeman, Montana later this summer. The Maryland Envirothon is sponsored by the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts and the State Soil Conservation Committee.

What: The 23nd Annual Maryland Envirothon competition for high school students.

Where: Western Maryland 4-H Education Center, 243 4-H Camp Road, Swanton, MD 21561 (Garrett County)

When: June 19, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. –Student Field Training.

When: June 20, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Competition from 8 a.m. to noon; Awards Presentation from 1 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Who: Five-member teams that won their county competition are competing for the state title.

• Allegany County: Allegany High School
• Anne Arundel County: South River High School
• Baltimore County: Hereford High School
• Calvert County: Huntingtown High School
• Carroll County: Boy Scouts Venturing Crew 202
• Cecil County: Rising Sun High School
• Charles County: Westlake High School
• Frederick County: Walkersville High School
• Garrett County: Northern Garrett High School
• Harford County: Harford Christian School
• Howard County: Wilde Lake High School
• Montgomery County: Richard Montgomery High School
• Prince George’s County: Oxon Hill High School
• St Mary’s County: Leonardtown High School
• Talbot County: Saints Peter and Paul High School
• Washington County: Clear Spring High School
• Worcester County: Pocomoke High School

Directions: From Baltimore: Take I-70 west to I-68 west (left lane exit). Continue west on I-68 for 62 miles to Exit 19, MD-495, Grantsville, Swanton. Turn left onto MD 495. Go west on MD 495. Continue for approximately 10 miles to park entrance. Turn right on Camp Road, which quickly turns to gravel. You will pass through public side of the park and travel around the lake to Private 4-H Camp. Travel for approximately 1 mile to the entrance to 4-H camp.

For more information, contact: Beth Horsey, Maryland Department of Agriculture, 410-841-5865.

NOTE TO EDITORS: June 19, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., is the best day for photos and interviews with students. During the event, contact: Beth Horsey at 443-254-3822 (cell). Alternatives phone numbers are 301-707-6042 (Envirothon Coordinator) or 301-245-4266 (Camp Kitchen).

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