Between Feb. 3-5, Nebraska high school students competed around the state during a virtual regional Envirothon competition demonstrating natural resources knowledge by identifying trees, labeling fish anatomy and determining soil structure.
The winning teams from each Envirothon region as well as eight wildcards – selected based on their competition scores – qualify to compete at state. This year’s state qualifiers include:
Traditionally, Nebraska’s six regional Envirothon competitions are hosted in conjunction with district agriculture education contests. Due to the pandemic, the contest went virtual with teams taking online, timed tests. High school students compete on five-member teams in seven environmental areas including: soils, aquatics, forestry, wildlife, range, policy and a current environmental issue.
Qualifying teams will compete at the Nebraska Envirothon, which is currently scheduled for Lake Wanahoo near Wahoo, Nebraska, April 28. During the state competition, teams compete in hands-on environmental testing stations as well as prepare and deliver an oral problem-solving presentation focusing on “Water Resources Management: Local Control, Local Solutions.”
The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) Foundation awards cash prizes to the top three teams at the state competition:
- First Place: $1,500
- Second Place: $1,000
- Third Place: $500
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The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD), the trade association for Nebraska's 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRD), works with individual districts to protect lives, property and the future of Nebraska’s natural resources. NRDs are unique to Nebraska, and act as local government entities with broad responsibilities to protect Nebraska’s natural resources. Major Nebraska river basins form the boundaries of the 23 NRDs, enabling districts to respond to local conservation and resource management needs. Learn more about Nebraska’s NRDs at www.nrdnet.org.