Next week, nearly 100 area high school students will be out of the classroom and at Twin Lakes Park in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County competing in the Envirothon natural-resource challenge in-person for the first time in two years.

The 36-year-old competition returns to its original hands-on format on April 28.

At Twin Lakes, students will measure trees, interpret maps, identify birds, and explore the nuances of a current environmental issue -- how to sustainably manage the waste that society creates.

Also at the April 28 event, they will hear a presentation by Melissa Reckner, program manager of Penguin Court in Laughlintown, on using the iNaturalist app to document natural world observations.

Nineteen teams from eight area high schools --  Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Kiski Area, Mt. Pleasant Area, Norwin, Southmoreland, and Yough-- are scheduled to participate.

The winning team will go on to represent Westmoreland County in the statewide PA Envirothon competition, which will be held next month as a hybrid competition.

The Westmoreland Conservation District has sponsored the Westmoreland County Envirothon every year since 1986. 

The District’s partners in this effort include: the Game Commission, Fish and Boat Commission, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Sponsors of this year’s event are Smithfield Foods; Apex Energy, LLC; and the Pennsylvania Envirothon, Inc.

For more information on this program, visit the PA Envirothon website.

Related Articles:

-- U.S. Dept. Of Education Recognizes Spring-Ford School District, Shippensburg University As Green Ribbon Schools 

-- DEP Announces Award Of $632,897 In Environmental Education Grants To Support 63 Projects Across The State

-- Stroud Water Research Center: Calling Lancaster County Teachers - Join Outdoor Leadership Network Initiative

[Posted: April 20, 2022]

4/25/2022