High School Students To Compete In Westmoreland County Envirothon April 24

On April 24 students from nine Westmoreland County high schools will compete at Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg to see which team has the most knowledge of the natural world.  

This exciting academic event, known as the Envirothon, has been hosted by the Westmoreland County Conservation District every year since 1986.  In it, teams of ninth- to twelfth-grade students compete in outdoor settings that test their knowledge of the natural world.

During the hands-on competition, students may be asked to identify a bird call, measure a tree, or feel handfuls of soil to identify the type.

They will work as a team to answer questions of fact and use their critical thinking skills to find solutions to reality-based challenges, such as how to balance use and conservation of our natural resources.

Topics in the competition include forestry, soil and land use, aquatic ecology, wildlife, and this year’s current environmental issue: agricultural soil and water conservation stewardship.

The 105 students scheduled to participate in this year’s competition represent Burrell High School, Derry Area High School, Franklin Regional Senior High School, Greater Latrobe Senior High School, Kiski Area High School, Mount Pleasant Area Junior-Senior High School, Norwin High School, Southmoreland High School, and Yough Senior High School.

The winning Westmoreland County team will go on to compete in the Pennsylvania State Envirothon at University of Pittsburgh Johnstown on May 23 and 24.

Click Here to view the 2016 winners of the Westmoreland Envirothon.

This year’s Westmoreland County Envirothon received funding support from the Pennsylvania Envirothon, Inc.; Apex Energy, LLC; and Smithfield.

A number of cooperating organizations and agencies also assist the Westmoreland Conservation District in hosting the event, including: the Game Commission, Fish and Boat Commission, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, Department of Environmental Protection, Westmoreland County Bureau of Parks and Recreation, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling.

For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Westmoreland County Conservation District website.

To learn more about county conservation district Envirothons, visit the PA Envirothon webpage.

(Photo: Southmoreland High School team, winners of 2016 Westmoreland Envirothon.)