left to right: Coach Kim Holmes, Chris Jacobs, Hannah Richwine, Ben Mummert, Ben Spaulding, Morgan Deluca, and Coach Barb Lathrop.

The team from Northern High School in York County is the winner of the 24th annual Pennsylvania State Envirothon held May 21-22 at Penn State University in Centre County.

Members of Northern York’s winning team include: Ben Mummert, Chris Jacobs, Morgan Deluca, Ben Spalding, and Hannah Richwine. Team advisors are: Kim Holmes and Barb Lathrop.

The team from Penncrest High School in Delaware County finished second followed by Warren Area High School in Warren County; Northeast Bradford High School in Bradford County; and East Lebanon County High School in Lebanon County.

The Pennsylvania Envirothon awarded scholarships to the first, second, and third place teams. The scholarships were sponsored by the Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the State Conservation Commission.

Teams from 65 Pennsylvania counties participated in this year’s event that tests students’ knowledge of environmental resources and their connection to each other and human activities.

The 2007 Pennsylvania Envirothon champions will represent the Commonwealth at the 20th Canon Envirothon North American competition to be held July 29–August 3 at the Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Geneva, New York.

Pennsylvania teams have won the North American event in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2005.

More than 48 states and eight Canadian provinces have initiated Envirothon contests based on the program that was originally developed by Pennsylvania’s conservation districts.

The students are challenged in the areas of aquatic ecology, forestry, soil/land use, wildlife, and a current environmental issue. The 2007 current environmental issue was alternative/renewable energy.

Teams participating represent the best and the brightest of the thousands of high school teens who have competed in county Envirothon competitions sponsored by conservation districts across the state.

At the state level, the Envirothon is sponsored by Pennsylvania’s 66 conservation districts, the State Conservation Commission, and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts. The program is managed by a board of directors representing those sponsors. Technical expertise is provided by the following agency partners: DEP, DCNR, the Game Commission, the Fish & Boat Commission, and the U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Financial sponsors of the 2007 Envirothon are Air Products and Chemicals, PPL Corp., Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Nestle Water North America, Haines and Kibblehouse, the Fish and Boat Commission, DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry, PennAg Industries Association, and the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Program. The Hershey Co., Dwight Lewis Lumber, Lewis Lumber Products, and Cargill are “Corporate Station Sponsors.”

An oral component event was held on the Monday before the testing event. The oral component consists of a team presentation to a panel of judges taking part in a question/answer session based on the current issue theme.

A timed event, the competition tests a team’s ability to consider an environmental issue, discuss its likely ramifications and effects, develop possible solutions, and then make a presentation before a group of judges and answer their questions.

This year’s oral component scenario was based on alternative/renewable energy.

Participation was mandatory but was not included in the overall competition score. Listed below are the top five teams in the oral component:

First Place – Penncrest High School, Delaware County; Second Place – Warren Area High School, Warren County; Third Place – Future Hope Homelearners, Snyder County; Fourth Place – East Lebanon County High School, Lebanon County; and Fifth Place – Great Valley High School, Chester County.

For more information, visit the Envirothon Program website, contact your local conservation district or contact the Pennsylvania Envirothon by phone 814-623-7900 ext. 111, or send email to: paenvirothon@pennswoods.net

The Pennsylvania Envirothon is also seeking information from Envirothon alumni. Visit the Envirothon webpage to comment on how the Envirothon program helped you!

Session Schedule

The Senate and House return to voting session June 4 and will be in session through June.

PA Environment Digest Video Blog

On the Hill

· On the Senate/House Agenda/ Bills Introduced

· House Takes “Winner Takes All” Approach to Passing State Budget

· Energy Efficiency, Hybrid Vehicles Bills Reported From House Committee

· Senate Hears Testimony on Issues Surrounding Coal Bed Methane Wells

· House Environmental Committee Energy Hearing Set for May 30 in York

Other News

· Chemsweep Program Wins 2007 Karl Mason Environmental Award

· GreenTreks Network’s Natural Heros Series Receives Regional Emmy

· 2007 Statewide Conference on Abandoned Mine Reclamation Set for July 20-21

· Save the Date! 6th Annual Ohio River Watershed Celebration September 20

· “Celebrating Native American Culture” Theme of Delaware River Sojourn

· Feature – Restoration Projects Helping Pennypack Creek Thrive

· New Agriculture and Environmental Science and Policy Center Established

· New Agreement Protects Additional Watershed Lands in Lackawanna County

· Workshop on Tax Incentives for Preserving Land Set for Palmerton

· EPA Seeking Nominations for Community Development and Active Aging Awards

· PA CleanWays Grant From Mellon Foundation Supports Cleanup Initiatives

· PA Roadside Aesthetics Workshop to Launch “Sponsor-A-Landscape” Program

· Penn State Trash to Treasure Sale Set for May 26

· Stay Out, Stay Alive, DEP Warns of Dangers in Old Mines, Quarries

· Citizen Advisory Committees Influence Deer Management Policies

· Doug Scott Speaking in Harrisburg on Protecting Wilderness Areas

· PPG Industries’ Charles E. Bunch to Deliver a Keynote at Air & Waste Conference

· Saint Francis University to Host 2nd Annual Alternative Energy Fair

· National Environmental Education Award Nominations Due June 30

· It’s a Boy and a Girl and a Girl and a Boy, Falcons That Is!

Feature

· Peregrine Falcons Make a Charged Comeback - Birds Continue to Increase Their Use of Natural Nesting Sites, By Joe Kosack, Game Commission

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

5/25/2007