Envirothon - Soil and Land Use Competition

Grades

Grades 9-12 (secondary school students)

Age

Ages 14-19

Citizenship

Open to students in United States, Canada, China, and Singapore; some locations may have regional programs

Prerequisites

Must be part of an organized team (typically 5 members per team); team must have a coach/advisor; teams must first qualify through local/state competition before advancing to nationals

Steps

1. Step 1: Find or form a 5-person team at your high school with an interested coach/advisor
2. Step 2: Contact your state/provincial Envirothon program director (varies by location)
3. Step 3: Register team with local/state Envirothon program (typically done by school/coach)
4. Step 4: Begin studying the five knowledge areas based on state-specific learning objectives
5. Step 5: Participate in state competition (typically held spring of each year)
6. Step 6: If winning first place at state level, advance to national NCF-Envirothon competition (6-day event held in different state/province annually)
7. Step 7: Compete at nationals in five competition components including written exam, oral presentation, and hands-on field work

Materials Needed

• Team roster with 5 members
• School coach/advisor contact information
• Learning objectives materials (provided by state program, typically released in May)
• Study guides for five content areas: Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Soils and Land Use, Wildlife, Current Environmental Issues
• Field notebooks and equipment for competitions
• Transportation to competitions (state and potentially national)

Timeline

Registration typically happens in fall/winter; state competitions held spring (February-April varies by state); nationals held mid-summer (2026 nationals: July 19-25 at Mississippi State University); teams should begin studying 6-12 months before state competition

Cost

State program costs vary; registration fees typically $50-300 per team at state level; nationals attendance costs (travel, lodging, meals) typically covered partially by scholarships; specific costs vary by state and year

What Judges Look For

• Comprehensive knowledge of five STEM-based environmental content areas
• Ability to apply scientific knowledge to real-world environmental problems
• Teamwork and collaboration skills
• Critical thinking and problem-solving in response to complex environmental issues
• Written exam performance demonstrating factual knowledge
• Oral presentation skills and ability to articulate environmental solutions
• Hands-on field test performance (soil sampling, water quality testing, wildlife identification, etc.)
• Understanding of local and global environmental context for competition year's location
• Leadership and environmental stewardship commitment

Scoring

Competition consists of four main components (typical structure): Written exam on all five subjects (approximately 50% of score), Hands-on environmental field testing (25%), Oral presentation on an environmental case study (15%), Team collaboration and communication demonstrated throughout competition (10%). Specific rubrics vary by state and competition year but emphasize both knowledge breadth and practical application.

Common Mistakes

• Focusing too narrowly on only 1-2 subject areas instead of studying all five equally
• Memorizing facts without understanding how to apply ecological principles to novel situations
• Inadequate preparation for field/hands-on components (many teams over-prepare written work but neglect outdoor skills)
• Poor time management during competitions, especially on written exams
• Weak team communication and collaboration (judges observe how teams work together)
• Ignoring the specific location and ecosystem context of that year's national competition
• Not using current environmental research and local case studies in preparation
• Underestimating the difficulty of national competition compared to state level
• Insufficient coach guidance and mentorship

Acceptance Rate

Not applicable as typical metric; structure is tiered qualification-based: approximately 45-50+ state/provincial teams compete at nationals out of ~1,000+ teams across all states competing at state level; this represents roughly 4-5% advancement rate from state to nationals

Applicants

Over 25,000 high school students annually participate in Envirothon programs across all participating regions; varies significantly by state

Winners / Selected

1 team per state/province qualifies for nationals (~45-50 teams at nationals); at nationals, typically top 3-5 teams receive major recognition and scholarships; participation awards for all national teams

• Start preparation 9-12 months before your state competition; national teams often begin preparation a full year or more in advance
• Divide team responsibilities by subject matter expertise: assign 1-2 people to deeply study each of the five content areas, but everyone must have baseline knowledge across all areas
• Use the official learning objectives (posted typically in May) as your primary study guide - don't waste time on material outside the scope
• Balance written knowledge preparation with hands-on field skills: practice soil testing, water quality analysis, wildlife identification, and plant taxonomy in outdoor settings
• Form a study group that meets weekly (2-3 hours minimum); consistency matters more than cramming
• Connect with your state program director and other coaches - they often share resources, practice exams, and insights about what topics get emphasized each year
• Attend state symposiums and workshops if offered - these provide valuable guidance and networking
• Practice test-taking strategies: work on timed exams, multiple-choice strategy, and essay writing under pressure
• Develop strong oral presentation skills - have the team practice presenting environmental case studies and solutions to mock audiences
• Research the previous year's competition location and ecosystem to understand the types of environmental issues tested
• If advancing to nationals, study the specific ecosystem and region hosting nationals months in advance
• Build strong coach relationships - the advisor's experience and mentorship significantly impacts team preparation quality
• Focus on interdisciplinary thinking - judges want to see connections between topics (e.g., how forestry management affects aquatic ecosystems)
• Stay current with environmental news - the 'Current Environmental Issues' category often draws from recent real-world events
• Practice field skills outdoors monthly, not just in final weeks before competition

How to Prepare

• Secure a coach/advisor with environmental science background and recruit 4 teammates you trust to commit 6-12 months to preparation
• Contact your state Envirothon program director and obtain official learning objectives and resources
• Create a detailed study plan covering all five content areas with assignments and deadlines
• Establish weekly 2-3 hour study meetings starting 9-12 months before state competition
• Assign each team member primary responsibility for 1-2 subject areas but ensure all learn fundamentals in all five areas
• Gather and organize study materials: textbooks, online resources, videos, field guides, past competition materials
• Start monthly field trips for hands-on practice with soil sampling kits, water quality testing equipment, field identification
• Develop practice exams from learning objectives and take them under timed conditions every 2-3 months
• Create flashcards and mnemonics for factual material (taxonomy, identification, terminology)
• Practice oral presentations on case studies with peer feedback and timing
• Build proficiency with scientific instruments: soil pH meters, dissolved oxygen meters, species identification tools
• If advancing to nationals, spend 2-3 months focused study on the specific location's ecosystem, local environmental issues, and unique species
• Attend state workshops, webinars, or symposiums if available (usually 1-2 per year)
• Mock compete with other teams in your state or region to simulate real competition conditions
• Review past national competition results and case studies to understand national-level expectations

Resources

• Official NCF-Envirothon Learning Objectives (all five subject areas) - free from envirothon.org
• State program-specific study guides and practice materials
• Biology and Environmental Science textbooks (AP Environmental Science text commonly used)
• Field Guides: Audubon Society guides, Peterson Guides for species identification
• USDA Soil Survey documents and soil science resources
• EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) educational materials
• YouTube channels: CrashCourse Environmental Science, Khan Academy Environmental Biology
• Online databases: JSTOR for research articles, Google Scholar for environmental studies
• Past Envirothon competition materials (exams, case studies) from your state program
• Environmental documentaries: Planet Earth, Blue Planet, Our Planet series
• State-specific environmental agency resources (Department of Environmental Protection/Conservation)
• University cooperative extension programs (often offer workshops for high school students)
• Local conservation organizations and nature centers for field work opportunities
• Websites: envirothon.org, National Geographic, Science Daily for current environmental issues
• Books: 'Environmental Science' by William P. Cunningham, 'Ecology' by Michael L. Cain

Time Needed

9-12 months of consistent preparation for state competition (3-4 hours weekly minimum); 3-6 additional months of intensive preparation if advancing to nationals. Total commitment: 150-250+ hours for state-level competition, 250-400+ hours for national competition. Teams typically begin formal preparation in fall/winter for spring state competitions.

Successful Envirothon teams typically include: students with strong science backgrounds (biology, environmental science, earth science courses), at least one student passionate about ecology/conservation, students with good communication skills for oral presentations, diverse learning styles that allow team to cover all five subject areas, dedication to monthly prep meetings starting 9+ months before state competition, supportive and knowledgeable coach/advisor who has environmental science experience. National-level winners often come from states with established Envirothon programs (PA, NY, OH, TX, CA) and represent schools with strong STEM programs. Teams are usually balanced rather than having one 'star' - success requires all five members to contribute meaningfully. Many winning students go on to environmental science, biology, or ecology-related college majors and mention Envirothon as formative experience.

Envirothon is moderately well-regarded in college admissions, particularly for students pursuing environmental science, ecology, biology, forestry, or natural resource management majors. Admissions officers recognize it as a legitimate STEM competition demonstrating: sustained commitment to environmental topics, teamwork and collaboration skills, hands-on scientific knowledge, and real-world problem-solving ability. National competition placement (top teams) carries more weight than state competition participation. Impact is strongest for students applying to colleges with strong environmental/forestry programs (e.g., Cornell's Agriculture & Life Sciences, Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, University of Maine, Clemson). At state level, it's a solid EC activity but not as prestigious as Science Olympiad nationally or Intel ISEF. At national level, it becomes a meaningful accomplishment that distinguishes applications, especially when combined with environmental leadership roles. Students often highlight Envirothon in essays and interviews as evidence of environmental passion and work ethic.

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