Envirothon

Students in 9th through 12th grade from all across southeast Tennessee took part in an outdoor environmental competition. Renita Beaty, Resource Conservation and Development Council Envirothon Chair said, "It’s a hands on competition and I’m hoping that they just learn something. I’ve actually had some students that have participated in this year after year, and I had one lovely lady and she changed her major and she thought she wanted to major in something different and she changed it to biology."

Twelve different high schools participated through the Resource Conservation and Development Council at Chester Frost Park. Teams of 3 to 5 students went from station to station to test their knowledge on aquatics, forestry, wildlife, urban forestry and soils. Robert Adams, Hixson High School Senior said, "Each person in our group has a different specialty, and as we go through the different stations each one of us kind of takes the lead, so each of us has our own part to play here in the competition." Envirothon teaches students about natural resources and current environmental issues. Adams said, "Environmental science is big because of the planet and all of that, but you know if we don’t take care of the planet it won’t take care of us, but this has to do with all the general aspects of it and kind of tests our knowledge on it."

The process encourages team building and decision making, while also allowing students to explore possible career paths later in life. Becca Watson, 9th Grade Walker Valley High School student said, "Well I was coming to Envirothon hoping to learn a bit more about agriculture. More about wildlife and so hopefully when I decide what I want to do when I get older, I’ll have a little background in agriculture."

Winners from Thursday’s competition will advance to the National Championship next month in Crossville.