2022 Regional Envirothon will be held at Mountain Lakes Park in North Salem
Friday, May 13
Students from Westchester High School will compete in a regional high-school environmental science competition at Mountain Lakes Park in North Salem on Friday, May 13.
The Envirothon is open to all public and private high schools in the county and each competing high school may enter up to two teams consisting of five students plus up to two alternates and an adult advisor. Open registration Get it now through Friday, April 22. The winner will move on to the New York State Envirothon on Wednesday and Thursday, May 25 and 26, at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva.
George Latimer, Westchester County Executive said, “I am thrilled that the county’s high schools students will have the chance to put their environmental science skills onto display and take part in friendly competition.” All participants, we wish you all the best!
Kathy OConnor, Westchester County Parks Commissioner, stated that Mountain Lakes Park in North Salem was one of Westchester’s hidden gems. She said that she is excited to host local high school students who will explore the park and compete in the Envirothon. I wish all participants the best of luck.
County students participated in the Hudson Valley Regional Envirothon, which was canceled in Dutchess County. The event featured teams from nine counties in lower Hudson River region. However, the sponsoring county soil conservation districts decided to disband the larger event and instead create smaller, more local events. The county of Westchester has sent more high school teams than any other county to the regional event. The Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District has teamed up with the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation and Watershed Agricultural Council to host this year’s event at Mountain Lakes Park.
Westchester County Planning Commissioner Norma Drummond said, We have supported the regional and state Envirothons for many years. It allows students to work in a team and sharpens knowledge about the natural environment, as well as key issues facing our world today.
The primary goal of the Envirothon is to encourage students to learn about natural resources and to become good stewards of the natural environment. The five environmental topics that the competing teams must know are soils, water use, aquatic ecology and forestry. Each team also has to be able to identify a subtopic that is relevant. This years environmental issue is on managing different types of waste generated by individuals, households, communities, businesses, manufacturing, agriculture, and industry. Students develop their research skills, learn team building, and become more comfortable with consensus decision making as they prepare for competition.
Soil and water conservation districts typically sponsor Envirothons, and Westchester Countys district has been a sponsor of both the regional and state events since their inceptions, providing both financial and staff support. The Countys Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation provides significant administrative, organizational, and staffing support this year. The Watershed Agricultural Councils East of Hudson Office provides generous support for this event.
Currently, approximately 500,000 students from 45 U.S. states and nine Canadian provinces/territories participate in the competition. All of them are competing to be part of the North American Envirothon. It will take place at Miami University in Oxford (Ohio) from July 24-30.
