Seminole High School participated in the 2014 regional Envirothon competition on February 6. The Seminole High School teams finished in 1st and 2nd place. They will continue to compete in the state Envirothon in May to defend their two-time state championship title.
The Envirothon is an annual competition for Environmental Science students. Each year Envirothon teams pack onto a bus and take a trip into nature to participate in the regional Envirothon. Students spend the day learning, studying packets, conducting experiments, and testing their knowledge as they move throughout a series of five stations, each about 45 minutes long. After each station, the students pause and take a written test about what they are learning.
The Envirothon is designed to give high school students throughout North America a different approach to environmental education, and to determine which schools have the best environmental students. Students learn about ecology and preserving Earth’s natural resources while they are outside in the forests and lakes.
Envirothon state champion, senior Kristen McIlroy said, “We really [get] the chance to learn about the Earth and all of the different things like the animals and the trees and stuff, way outside of the textbook.”
The competing students are tested in different categories of the environment. These categories include aquatics, forestry, wildlife, soils, and current environmental issues. The tests are based on the Sunshine State Standards and are specific to Florida’s natural environment.
Competing in the Envirothon is not only a memorable experience for the students; it also looks great on college applications.
“Colleges look very favorably at Envirothon participation,” said SHS science teacher Mr. Kris Cole, “One of my students actually showed me a college application asking if she had ever won an Envirothon. She was able to say yes, I’m a state champion!”
After the state competitions, winning teams go on to compete in the international Envirothon for recognition, scholarships, and prizes.
Before competing in the regional Envirothon, students must first take a test within their science class. Those who score highest are then chosen to compete.
During Envirothon the teams of students bond and work together in order to learn and to get the best scores on their series of tests.
“I’ve made a lot of close friends through it,” said senior Madison Cole, two-time Envirothon state champion. “You’re working so hard and you have to rely on each other a lot and you learn to trust these people. It’s a really great way to meet people.”
Students learn helpful study habits as they prepare for the Envirothon that can also help them in other areas of life.
“I don’t know if we’re going to use it in a career path, but I think it’s definitely always going to help having the experience of a competition,” said McIlroy. “It’s also helped me study. It’s really intense and you have to know a lot of information. So studying habits and getting ready for that definitely help.”
Seminole High School is the first school in Central Florida to win back-to-back state championships, and the teams returned this year to defend their title.
“The SHS students take their competition very seriously,” said Mr. Cole. “They are the defending Regional champs and won in 2012 as well!”
Seminole High School has again triumphed in the regional Envirothon. It remains to be seen how they will perform in the state competition.