Programs



Envirothon

This program is designed to cultivate a desire to learn more about our natural environment through competitive events. Thousands of high school students have met the Envirothon challenge nationwide and come away with a greater understanding of their total environment.

Area High School students and Teachers are encouraged to "Accept a Natural Challenge"

This interdisciplinary competition is a great way to fit natural resources and environmental studies into required curriculum objectives. Winning teams at the regional level advance to the state Envirothon to be held in May. The top state team then advances to the National Envirothon, for a chance to win top honors as well as scholarships. The highest scoring Future Farmers of America (FFA) team at the state competition will also represent Tennessee in the national FFA competition consisting of similar environmental topics. This information has been made available to the Biology, Chemistry, Science and Vo-Ag teachers in your community, as well as, your local 4-H office.

Materials

Introduction

Welcome to the Tennessee Envirothon Website.

At this site, you can find out what the Envirothon is, where t is happening in your area and how you can become involved. The envirothon is a hands-on competition for highschool students and teachers interested and involved in conservation, natural resources and environmental studies.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Envirothon is to develop knowledgeable, skilled and dedicated citizens who are willing and prepared to work twards achieving and maintaining a natural balance between the quality of life and the quality of the environment.

Purpose

Envirothon's purpose is to promote greater awareness of natural resources and to heighten students' understanding of the interrelationship between plants, animals, humans and the environment we share. The competition provides students with experience in environmental ctivities to enable them to become environmentally-aware, action-oriented adults.

What to Expect

It's a warm spring day and the bright green foliage of new leaves is reflected in the streams surface. On the stream bank, a group of students collaborate to answer questions about the water quality. Nearby, their competitors are studying pelts and animal tracks to determine the correct answers to a wildlife quiz. Beneath the trees, other young people identify leaves as part of a forestry competition that encourages stewardship of natural resources through group interaction and brings students into the outdoor classroom.

  • Wildlife
  • Water Quality
  • Forestry
  • Soils
  • Environmental Topic*

    • (*) Changes each year. Past environmental topics have included pesticide management, non-point source water pollution, acid rain, groundwater and greenways and land trusts for family farms.

    History

    Pennsylvania was the birthplace of Envirothon in 1979. Tennessee became involved in 1993, when the Clinch-Powell Resource Conservation and Development(RC&D) Council introduced the competition to students in Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, and Union Counties. Since then, the competition has grown to include 72 counties covered in the ten RC&D Councils across the state. A contract with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Nonpoint Source Program has allowed the competition to become statewide over the last several years.

    Study Materials

    Soils and Land Use

  • Soil Curriculum

    • Aquatic Ecology

  • Aquatic Curriculum

    • Forestry

  • Forestry Curriculum

    • Wildlife

  • Wildlife Curriculum

    • Biodiversity

  • Biodiversity In A Changing World
  • Biodiversity In A Changing World Learning Objectives
  • North America's Fish Feel the Heat
  • Warmer Waters Disrupt Pacific Foodchain
  • Pesticides and Aquatic Animals: A guide to Reducing Impacts on Aquatic Systems
  • Bioenergy, Conservation and Wildlife Protection can Boost Each Other
  • Biodiversity-USAID
  • Alien Species
  • Alien Invaders affecting our Nation’s Waters
  • The Scientific Imperative for Defending Small Streams & Wetlands
  • Small Streams: Your link to the Bay
  • Biodiversity-ESA
  • The Migrating Boreal Forest
  • Biodiversity Background Information for Educators
  • Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning: Maintaining Natural Life Support Processess
  • Forest Soils
  • Why Should we care about Biodiversity
  • Diversity & Development
  • Environment: Ocean Life on the Brink of No Return
  • Climate Change and Biodiversity—Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
  • Biodiversity-An Overview
  • Habitat Loss at a Glance
  • Why Plant Conservation is so Important
  • Introduced Species: The Threat to Biodiversity and What can Be done
  • Mutualistic Biodiversity Networks
  • The Environmental Impacts of Large Dams
  • Coastal & Freshwater Ecosystems

    • Rules

    View the official rules here.

    Learn More

    If you are interested in learning more about Envirothon, please visit the National Envirothon and Tennessee Envirothon web sites.

    Envirothon is a science team competition in Forestry, Wildlife, Aquatic Resources, Soils and a Current Environmental Issue. Students in grades 9 - 12 can participate in teams of three to five members. There is NO LIMIT on the number of teams per school. The competition will be held Friday, April 22nd in Washburn, TN. There is a $10.00 registration fee per team. Coaches or anyone interested in participating must contact Lindy Turner at (865) 828-5927 or 1(800) 814-6355. Registration forms, study materials and further information will then be mailed or delivered directly to coaches / teams.

    “All programs and assistance of the RC&D Council are available without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).”