Delaware students to compete in state Envirothon on April 28

DOVER – Students from around the state will meet at Brecknock Park in Camden on April 28 to compete in the 21st annual Delaware Envirothon. This year, 100 students representing nine high schools and one 4-H Club will compete for more than $5,700 in college scholarships and cash awards.

The Envirothon is a team-based outdoor academic competition which challenges high school students’ knowledge and practical application of aquatic ecology, forestry, soils/land use, wildlife, air quality, special environmental topics and public speaking. This year’s special topic is “Invasive Species: A Challenge to the Environment, Economy and Society.” The teams come from the following high schools: A. I. DuPont High School, Delaware Military Academy, Charter School of Wilmington, Hodgson Vo-Tech High School, Middletown High School, MOT Charter School, Lake Forest High School, Peach Blossom 4-H Club, Polytech High School and Sussex Tech High School.

Hosted by the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts (DACD), the Envirothon offers students monetary awards for higher education. Twenty teams, consisting of five students each, will compete for college scholarships and special team awards, including a $500 scholarship for each student on the first place team. In addition, cash awards totaling approximately $2,200 are given to the top seven teams.

The goal of the Delaware Envirothon is to prepare students to be future leaders in environmentally-related careers and enhance their knowledge of our environment. The competition provides experience in real world situations, which fosters sound decision making, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Teams will be tested at outdoor eco-stations located throughout designated areas of the event site.

The DACD is a voluntary, non-profit association that coordinates conservation efforts statewide to focus on natural resource issues identified by Delaware’s three local districts in Sussex, Kent and New Castle counties. For more information on the Delaware Envirothon and the North American Envirothon, please contact Delaware Envirothon Chair Rick Mickowski at 302-832-3100 ext. 113 or 302-602-2664.

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 132