texas envirothon

Texas EnvirothonTexas EnvirothonSpring 2016 | Texas

Environmental Institute of HoustonEnvironmental Institute of Houston

What is the Texas Envirothon?An environmental education program designed to enhance a student’s problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Who participates?

Students in grades 9 through 12 participate on a state level. Each state’s winning team participates on the national level at the NCF Envirothon.

And the Topics Are:

Aquatics

And the Topics Are:

AquaticsForestry

And the Topics Are:

AquaticsForestrySoils

And the Topics Are:

AquaticsForestrySoilsWildlife

And the Topics Are:

AquaticsForestrySoilsWildlifeCurrent

EnvironmentalIssue

And the Topics Are:

AquaticsForestrySoilsWildlifeCurrent

EnvironmentalIssue

OralPresentation

Correlated to TEKS

• Biology, Chemistry, Physics, IPC• Aquatic Science, Earth and Space Science• Environmental Systems• Forestry and Woodland Ecosystems• Wildlife Fisheries & Ecology Management

Our Mission

The mission of the Texas Envirothon is to develop knowledgeable, skilled and dedicated citizens who are willing to work toward achieving and maintaining a natural balance between the quality of life and the quality of the environment.

What do the students say?I definitely believe that Envirothon was the most important experience I had in high school in terms of preparing me for college and a future beyond that.

Melisa PferdehirtThe John Cooper SchoolSophomore at Rice University

Goal 1 of the Texas Envirothon

To promote a desire to learn more about the environment and develop knowledge and skills to apply the basic principles and practices of natural resource management and ecology.

Goal 2 of the Texas Envirothon

To provide students with experiences in natural resource oriented activities, which enable them to become environmentally aware and action oriented citizens.

Goal 3 of the Texas Envirothon

To promote the stewardship of natural resources through the development of critical thinking, problem solving and decision making skills.

What do the teachers say?

“This competition is by far my favorite part of the year when I get to study, work, practice, and travel with my best, brightest students. I can’t say enough of how great this is, and how Envirothon has made me a better teacher.”Anthony Strohmeyer, Richardson High School

“Envirothon has really influenced my students in so many ways.”Andrew Cortez, Science Academy of South Texas

History of the Envirothon

• 1979 - Envirothon started by a local conservation district in Pennsylvania

• 1988 - 3 teams - First National Envirothon• 1994 - 23 teams• 1999 - 46 teams• 2013 - 57 teams• 2014 - 8 teams• 2015 - 52 teams

History of the Texas Envirothon

• 2001 Stephen F. Austin State University; 12 teams• 2002 Tyler Junior College; 7 teams• 2003 Armand Bayou, UHCL; 14 teams• 2004 Bear Creek Park, Houston; 11 teams• 2005 Big Thicket National Preserve, Kountze; 9 teams• 2006 Eastman Nature Trail, Longview; 14 teams• 2007 Sheldon Lake State Park, Houston; 19 teams• 2008 Brookhaven College, Dallas; 18 teams

• 2009 TX A&M Kingsville, Kingsville; 14 teams• 2010 UHCL, Houston; 11 teams• 2011 Eastman Nature Trail, Longview; 13 teams• 2012 SFA State University, Nacogdoches; 8 teams• 2013 UT Pan American, Edinburg; 13 teams• 2014 UHCL, Houston; 21 teams• 2015 Schreiner University, Kerrville; 20 teams

History of the Texas Envirothon

Awards – Texas

• Awards for top score in Aquatics, Wildlife, Forestry, Soils, Current Issue, & Oral Presentation• Awards for overall 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place

Awards – National

• Winning Texas team attends the NCF Envirothon competition where students compete for scholarships and prizes.

• Over $100,000 of scholarships available

• 2016 North American Envirothon:• Peterborough, Ontario, Canada• July 24–July 29

2005, 2006 National Winners

Texas takes 4th and 3rd at the Canon Envirothon

John Cooper High School

2014 Regional Winners

Texas Team wins Kansas Heartland Envirothon

Academy of Science and Technology

2015 National Winners

Texas wins 3rd at North American Envirothon

Academy of Science and Technology

Who funds the Texas program?

2015 SponsorsEastman Chemical CompanyLyondellBasellEnvironmental Institute of HoustonGulf Coast Waste Disposal AuthorityThe Jacob and Terese Hershey FoundationNCF EnvirothonTexas Association of Environmental ProfessionalsTexas Forestry AssociationU.S. Forest ServiceSan Antonio Water SystemTexas Association for Environmental EducationAssociation of Texas Soil & Water Conservation DistrictsHarris County Soil & Water Conservation DistrictMontgomery County Soil & Water Conservation District

Cost

• Registration is $150/team

• Registration includes on-line study materials, t-shirt, Sunday dinner, & Monday awards luncheon

• Schools pay their own travel and hotel costs;we negotiate a discounted rate with a local hotel

Date & Location

Dates for this year are …April 2–4, 2016

Greater Houston Area

Training

• Teacher training workshop (free!)• Date TBA• UHCL Campus, Houston

• Online resources available:• www.texasenvirothon.org• www.envirothon.org

Promoting the Texas Envirothon

www.TexasEnvirothon.org Follow us:

For more information:Wendy Reistle:Reistle@uhcl.edu