2015 Pennsylvania State Envirothon Results The 32nd Pennsylvania Envirothon state competition was held at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown and Windber Recreation Park on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 19 and 20, 2015. High school students from 63 Pennsylvania counties participated in this year’s event. At the Envirothon, five-member teams participate in a series of field station tests that focus on five topic areas – soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and environmental issues. The 2015 current environmental issue focused on Urban and Community Forestry. The teams also prepare and deliver oral presentations to panels of judges who evaluate each team on its problem-solving capabilities, oral presentation skills and recommendations to help solve the specific environmental challenge, which relates to the current environmental issue. Teams participating represent the best and the brightest of the thousands of high school teens who have competed in county Envirothon competitions sponsored by conservation districts from across the state. At the state level, the Envirothon is sponsored by Pennsylvania’s sixty-six county conservation districts, the State Conservation Commission, and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts. The program is managed by a board of directors representing those sponsors. Technical expertise is provided by the following partners: PA Department of Environmental Protection, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PA Game Commission, PA Fish and Boat Commission, U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Penn State Extension. Sponsors and partners of the 2015 Envirothon are PPL Corporation, Marcellus Shale Coalition, Shell Oil Co., Air Products Foundation, Weis, The Hershey Company, National Conservation Foundation Envirothon, PA Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Department of Education, PA Outdoor Writers Association, PA Trappers Association, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, and State Conservation Commission. The Hershey Company, Dwight Lewis Lumber, Lewis Lumber Products, PPL, and Cargill are corporate station sponsors. The 2015 Pennsylvania Envirothon champions will represent the Commonwealth at the 27th North American competition planned for July 27 – August 1 at Missouri State University, Springfield. Pennsylvania has won the North American event in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2009. More than 46 states, eight Canadian provinces, and one Canadian territory have initiated Envirothon contests based on the program that was originally developed by Pennsylvania’s conservation districts. The 2015 Pennsylvania Envirothon champions, scoring 572.00 points of a possible 600, are from Penncrest High School located in Delaware County. The Delaware County team earned the honor to represent Pennsylvania at the NCF-Envirothon North American competition. Top 10 winners, with scores include: Second Place – Palmyra Area High School, Lebanon County, with a score of 527.33; Third Place – Central York High School, York County, with a score of 522; Fourth Place – Carmichaels Area High School, Greene County, with a score of 509.33; Fifth Place – Downingtown East High School, Chester County, with a score of 472.33; Sixth Place – Blue Mountain High School, Schuylkill County, with a score of 470; Seventh Place – Troy High School, Bradford County, with a score of469.33; Eighth Place – Oley Valley High School, Berks County, with a score of 465.67; Ninth Place – Pocono Mountain East High School, Monroe County, with a score of 465.33; Tenth Place – Neshaminy High School, Bucks County, with a score of461. The Pennsylvania Envirothon awarded scholarships to the first, second, and third place teams. The scholarships were sponsored by Pennsylvania’s County Conservation Districts and Shell Oil. Each of the top ten teams received a plaque and other prizes. The high station winners, with scores include: Soils/Land Use – Delaware County, with a score of 96; Aquatic Ecology – York County, with a score of 98; Forestry – Delaware County, with a score of 95; Wildlife – Delaware County, with a score of 95; Current Issue – Lebanon County, with a score of 90; and Oral Presentation Component – Delaware County, with a score of 100. For more information on the Envirothon program, contact your county conservation district or contact the Pennsylvania Envirothon by phone (814) 623-7900 ext. 111, Email lsteach@envirothonpa.org, or visit the website at www.envirothonpa.org.
