COLUMBUS, OH -- Students from 17 high schools, representing every part of the state, will converge at Urbana University June 8 to 10 for the 2003 Ohio Envirothon, an outdoor academic competition that tests students' knowledge of soil and land use, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology and current environmental issues.The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts sponsor the annual competition.
The top four teams from five regions of Ohio will work cooperatively to answer questions prepared by professionals from ODNR, The Ohio State University (OSU) Extension, Clark and Darke county soil and water conservation districts, Wittenberg University, Tecumseh Land Trust and Champaign Land Preservation.
This year's competitors are from Bowling Green High School, Delta FFA, Fort Jennings High School and Holgate High School in northwest Ohio; Chardon High School, Loudonville High School and Highland High School in northeast Ohio; East Knox FFA, Harrison Central FFA, River View FFA and New Lexington FFA in east central Ohio; Anna High School, Bellbrook High School and Northmont High School in southwest Ohio; and Chief Logan FFA, Athens High School and Symmes Valley High School in southeast Ohio.
Winners of the statewide competition will travel to Mount St. Mary's College in Emittsburg, Maryland, for the international Canon Envirothon, scheduled for July 26 to 31.
The Envirothon is funded by donations from individuals, soil and water conservation districts, local businesses, agencies and organizations. Sponsors for the 2003 Ohio Envirothon include American Electric Power, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Education Fund, ODNR's Division of Wildlife, Mead Westvaco, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Pheasants Forever, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts, The OSU School of Natural Resources and Mad River Steering Committee.