Lightridge High School produced two Envirothon teams this school year who both competed in the Area II Envirothon competition at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve on April 30th, 2022. These dedicated students and coaches persevered through many challenges as they prepared for their first in-person Enviothon competition. BOTH teams placed in the top three of a testing category during the competition. The team consisting of Pooja Adelli (Team Captain), Ayati Joshi, Yash Nayak, Scarlett Schuhart and Rishab Vontela placed SECOND in Soils category. The second team which included Saanvi Munigela (Team Captain), Isabella Dalebout, Amanda Jimmerson, Marisa Woodcock, Samah Nassiri and alternates Chinmayi Ranade and Morgan Skiles, placed FIRST in the Special Topic category. Both teams were under the guidance of coaches Dawn Buskey and Jennifer Wolfe. THANK YOU all for your exceptional efforts in learning about the natural world!

What is Envirothon?

The Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon is a team based natural resources competition for high school students. Students who participate learn stewardship and management concepts and work to solve real world environmental problems. The program is field-oriented, community based and gives students an opportunity to work with natural resource professionals.

Click HERE for a video overview of the Virginia Dominion Envirothon competition!

Who makes up a team and what do they do?

Students work in teams of five.  Throughout the school year students prepare to compete at the local level, qualify to then compete at the area level (Loudoun County is part of Area II) and the top three teams from each of the six Soil & Water Conservation District areas in the state compete to be the State Winner.  These teams of high school students are tested on their knowledge of natural resources-soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics and a current environmental issue.  Students visit five “in-the-field” test stations where written and hands-on problem solving is required along with an oral presentation formulating a strategy to address a specific environmental issue they’ve been presented with.  The event is competitive but education is the bottom line.

Teams can be created through school clubs, classes, home school groups, 4-H groups, scout troops, local nature centers etc.  The only requirements of at team are a minimum of five students and one adult advisor/chaperone.

Want to get involved? 

The next Envirothon competition will occur in spring of 2023.  If you are interested in learning more, we encourage potential coaches and/or interested students to attend an all day hands-on training event scheduled this fall at Graves Mountain on November 19, 2022.  Beginner and advanced tracks offered. Interested in attending? Register at https://tinyurl.com/envirothontraining2022.  Questions? Contact Steph DeNicola at Culpeper SWCD: stephanied@culpeperswcd.org.

 

 

 

Virginia’s Envirothon program is also supported through the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund. Proceeds from the sale of the Bay license plates help citizens keep the bay healthy by restoring wetlands, planting buffers around waterways, promoting marine life restoration, decreasing pollution and providing educational programs like Envirothon.  To purchase a Bay license plate visit: http://www.dmv.state.va.us/vehicles/#splates/info.asp?idnm=CB 

Envirothon 2022-23 information:

2022-23 current issue/special topic -“Adapting to Climate Change”. More at NCF’s website here: https://envirothon.org/the-competition/future-competition/

The 2023 International Competition will take place at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick Canada; tentative dates: July 23 – 29, 2023.

Additional Resources & Information: