You might say its “April Madness,” as students from 11 area high schools and one home-school program move into the final weeks of preparation for the annual countywide environmental competition in Westmoreland County.

This exciting academic event, known as the Westmoreland County “Envirothon,” will pit teams of ninth- to twelfth-grade students against each other in outdoor situations that test their knowledge of the natural world. This year’s competition will be held at Mammoth Park on May 7.

During this hands-on competition, students may be asked to measure a tree…analyze water from a stream…or feel handfuls of earth to identify the type soil. They will work as a team to answer questions of fact, and use their critical thinking to find solutions to reality-based situations, such as how to balance the use and protection of our natural resources. Topics include: forests, soil, wildlife, aquatic environments, and this year’s special challenge: alternative energy.

More than 100 students are scheduled to participate in this 22nd annual countywide competition, representing Burrell, Derry Area Senior, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Central Catholic, Greensburg Salem, Kiski Area, The Kiski School, Mount Pleasant, Norwin Senior, Southmoreland, and Yough Senior high schools…as well as students from The Westmoreland Enrichment Classes (a home-school team based in Norwin). Each has registered at least one team in this year’s competition; some schools have registered two teams.

The winning Westmoreland County team will go on to compete in the Pennsylvania State Envirothon on May 21 and 22, at Penn State University, University Park, in Centre County. Last year’s Westmoreland County Envirothon winners, the Westmoreland Enrichment Classes, placed ninth overall in last year’s state competition, which included a field of 64 teams.

State winners move next to the ultimate challenge – a final national/international competition called the Canon Envirothon. This year, the national/international competition will be held at Hobart & William Smith Colleges in New York from July 29 to August 4.

In the previous 21 years of competition, Westmoreland County teams have gone on to win the state championship four times . . . placed among the top three teams in the state seven times . . . and competed nationally three times, placing sixth, fifth, and second.

A number of cooperating agencies assist the Westmoreland Conservation District in hosting the county Envirothon, including: The Game Commission, the DCNR Bureau of Forestry, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Westmoreland County Bureau of Parks and Recreation, Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s Powdermill Nature Reserve, and Penn State Cooperative Extension Westmoreland County.

Giant Eagle is a major corporate underwriter of the 2007 Westmoreland County Envirothon.

For more information, visit the Westmoreland County Conservation District and PA Envirothon websites.

4/20/2007