Dozens of high school students from around Warren County brought their science knowledge to Warren County Fish Hatchery on Wednesday, May 1, as Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District held its annual “Envirothon” science competition.
Seventy students from six school districts – Warrensburg, North Warren, Johnsburg, Lake George, Prospect School and Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES – competed to see who has learned the most about environment-related topics in the hands-on, single-day event. The studying occurs outside, in the woods, at the Fish Hatchery visitor center, and along hatchery trout ponds.
The teams compete against one another on five core Environmental Science topics – wildlife, forestry, aquatic ecology, soil and a “current issue” that changes annually, with this year’s issue chosen to be “Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future.”
Teams prepare for the competition by reviewing core study topics ahead of the event, and having review sessions with Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff. The SWCD staff partners with state and local professionals to write and administer exams taken by students during Envirothon.
A team from Warrensburg Central School was crowned as champion of this year’s event, and will be representing Warren County at the NY State Competition May 22 and 23 at SUNY Cortland. A team from Lake George Central School finished in second place and North Warren Central School third.
Staff from Warren County Department of Workforce Development were on hand to share more information with students about internship and employment opportunities, and Warren County Department of Workforce Development also donated prizes for students that included Lake George Steamboat Co. cruise tickets, sunglasses from Fountain Square Outfitters and plants from Glens Falls Vertical Garden.
Participants also enjoyed a barbecue lunch, grilled by SWCD staff, and heard a presentation from Abraham Gadway, a licensed guide who is founder of Adirondack Mountain Outfitters of Warrensburg.
Envirothon is held the first Wednesday of each May unless there is a conflict with state school testing, and all Warren County schools are invited and encouraged to participate next year.