Northome science teacher Jim Schneider coached a first-time Koochiching County team to a second place win, narrowly missing a tie for first place, at the Area VIII Envirothon at Lake Bemidji State Park May 2.
Each year, Soil and Water Conservation Districts from Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods and Wadena counties work together to host the Area VIII Envirothon, an outdoor learning event for high school students in grades 9-12.
The event has become one of the state’s largest environmental education competitions.
This year officials welcomed sixth through eighth graders to compete alongside the older students in the area’s first Junior Envirothon.
Teams consisting of five students from the same school/organization visit different learning stations covering aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and a current environmental topic that changes every year. Students are given a written exam relating to the station’s topics. In addition, students are required to give a brief oral presentation to a panel of judges.
Natural resource professionals from across the state serve as presenters at each station and use the outdoor setting as well as their own props to add to the experience.
This year’s winning high school Envirothon teams were: Trek North Bemidji, first place; Northome, second place; and Park Rapids in third place. The teams will compete at the state level later this month in Savage. Winning teams in Junior Envirothon included Trek North Junior High, first place; Bagley Elementary, second place; and Wadena-Deer Creek, third place.
