How the Envirothon Works A Basic Introduction for Our Team

We will prepare this year To compete at a one day State environmental competition in May High School students from all over Massachusetts will be there ~500 people!

A basic understanding of ecosystems is essential FIRST STEP Identifying: Plants Animals Soils Aquatic organisms

This is why the Envirothon program works Students (no coach/teacher help!) work with their team of five to: Answer 25 questions per ecostation that involve: Plant, Animal, Soils, & Aquatics ID Along with a basic understanding of the environment

5 basic topics in competition 5 basic topics in competition Forestry Ecostation- 75 points Wildlife Ecostation- 75 points Soils Ecostation- 75 points Aquatics Ecostation- 75 points (All ecostations, 25 questions, 3 points each) Current Issue Presentation points (15 minute presentation by students with 10 minutes of questions by judges) So… 75% of team score is ecostation tests, 25% of score is the presentation (based on your research and community work on the Current Issue)

Forestry Native trees/shrubs Latin names Common names Winter buds are critical! leaves, bark, fruit Typical habitat Learn to use the field guide book! You can use it at the competition

Wildlife Tracks Scat Fur/hair Bones/skulls Evidence of feeding Dens Sounds Movement Behavior Fisher Turkey tracks Deer scat

Soils Understand the basic soil types Parent material How they feel Colors Size of particles Where typically found Soil profiles- soil pit Envirothon Ecostation Team identifies soils

Digging a soil pit Allows you to see the soil profile

Aquatics Collect & ID aquatic insects & plants Record any other aquatic life forms found (amphibians) Measure stream flow Oxygen concentration pH Understanding the importance of wetlands Where is your watershed?

Current Issue Research- understand the issue basics Get to know your community: Interview Collect data Write Debate Perfect your public speaking Find an issue that really interests you and is a practical step for your community Implement!

Put all of your work on the Current Issue together Each team member should speak (~3 minutes/student x 5 students = 15 minutes) Practice! Anticipate questions Each student be prepared to answer a question

Whether you win or not You’ll discover that winning isn’t as important as what you will learn about the environment Guaranteed to change your world! :) Have FUN!