CHARDON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WIN 2005 OHIO ENVIROTHON
Logan-Hocking High School team finishes second; Delta High School places third
COLUMBUS, OH - A team of Chardon High School students placed first in the 2005 Ohio Envirothon, held at Hiram College June 12-14, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Twenty teams from 19 Ohio high schools participated in this year’s outdoor competition, which tested students’ knowledge of soils and land use, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology and current environmental issues.
First prize was a check for $300 and a chance to represent Ohio at the North American Canon Envirothon, set for July 18-24 at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. Each student on the winning team also received a $1,000 scholarship to The Ohio State University School of Natural Resources.
The Logan High School “Gold Team” from Hocking County finished second in the competition, taking home a check for $200, and $750 scholarships for each participant. A team from Delta High School in Fulton County placed third, winning a check for $100, and $500 scholarships in the process. A team from North Adams High School in Adams County took honors as the high scoring “rookie” team. Each school received a plaque commemorating its winning performance.
ODNR’s Division of Soil & Water Conservation and the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts sponsor the annual event.
Each participating team earned the opportunity to compete at the state level by placing among the top four teams in five regional Envirothons that were held in April and May.
Each year, the Envirothon focuses on a specific environmental issue. This year’s topic centered on managing cultural landscapes. In addition to a field testing exercise, each team prepared a five-minute oral presentation, which was delivered to a panel of experts.
Competition questions were prepared by professionals from ODNR, Hiram College, Portage County Park District, Holden Arboretum, and the Ohio Army National Guard.
High scores in the individual contest components were: Chardon Red team - Wildlife and Forestry; Chardon Black team - Soils and Land Use; Delta - Aquatic Ecology; Chief Logan FFA - Current Issue; and Cedarville - Oral Presentation.
The Ohio Envirothon is funded by donations from individuals, soil and water conservation districts, local businesses, agencies and organizations. Donors for the 2005 Ohio Envirothon included American Electric Power, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Education Fund, the ODNR Divisions of Wildlife and Forestry, the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Pheasants Forever, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts, the Ohio State University School of Natural Resources; Western Reserve RC&D; Canon Envirothon; Cuyahoga American Heritage River Initiative; and Hole in the Horn Whitetails.