Approximately 55 students from six Rhode Island communities tested their knowledge of the area’s soils, forests, water, and wildlife as part of the competition. At this outdoor event, teams rotated through four stations where they answered written questions and engaged in hands-on activities such as soil analysis, wildlife habitat assessment, tree identification, and water quality testing.
At the fifth station, the Environmental Issue, each team gave a 12-15-minute presentation on “Adapting to a Changing Climate” to a panel of judges. Teams researched the Environmental Issue in their own community in preparation for their presentation. Each panel of judges included concerned citizens and environmental professionals from government agencies, non-profit organizations, academia and private industry. Teams were asked to explore the growing, harvesting, and distribution of food in their own home communities and across Rhode Island.
Schools, 4-H clubs, scout troops and other recognized youth groups may enter one or two teams of five participants. This year’s teams represented Coventry High School, Davies Career Tech High School in Lincoln, Narragansett High School, Mary’s Academy Bay View in East Providence, The Greene School in West Greenwich, and The Wheeler School in Providence.
Here are the 2023 top scoring teams:
Overall Winner:
1. The Wheeler School, Team 1
2. The Greene School, Team 1
3. Narragansett High School, Team 1
Test:
1. The Greene School, Team 1
2. The Wheeler School, Team 1
3. Coventry High School, Team 1
Aquatics:
1. Coventry High School, Team 1
2. The Greene School, Team 1
3. Narragansett High School, Team 1
Wildlife:
1. Bay View, Team 2
2. Narragansett High School, Team 1
3. The Wheeler School, Team 1
Forestry:
1. The Greene School, Team 1
2. The Wheeler School, Team 1
3. Narragansett High School, Team 1
Soils:
1. The Wheeler School, Team 1
2. The Greene School, Team 1
3. Bay View, Team 2
Orals:
1. Bay View, Team 2
2. Narragansett High School, Team 1
3. The Wheeler School, Team 1
“The Envirothon is more than just a competition. Many teams have taken what they’ve learned about the environment and put it to work in their community. The program prepares the next generation for environmental stewardship,” said RI Envirothon Coordinator Paul Dolan. “Students use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to develop solutions to real-world environmental problems.”
The overall winning team will represent Rhode Island in the North American Envirothon, which will be held July 23-29, 2023, at Mount Allison University in Tantramar, New Brunswick, Canada.
The 2023 Rhode Island Envirothon was made possible through the contributions of partnering agencies and organizations, including financial support from: the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rhode Island Society of Environmental professionals, Society of Soil Scientists of Southern New England, The Hammond Family, Senator Susan Sosnowski’s Office, Northern Rhode Island Conservation District, AMICA Insurance, and many other professional and environmental organizations.
Federal and state environmental agencies, conservation districts, non-profit organizations, higher educational institutions, and businesses provide expertise and helped organize the event. Dozens of volunteers were also on hand on May 19th to handle event logistics from setting up tents, tables and chairs, checking-in teams, serving food, scoring tests and cleaning up.
For more information on the Rhode Island Envirothon visit www.rienvirothon.org.
Original source can be found here.