Thank you for your interest in the Alaska State Envirothon program! The Envirothon is a year-long multidisciplinary environmental education program for high school aged students that culminates with a statewide competition. The mission of Alaska Envirothon is to enhance students’ knowledge of environmental issues and ecological sustainability principles through practical studies in their own communities.

Alaska is part of North America’s Canon Envirothon. Click on the video to learn more.

Benefits to Students
Combining in-class curriculum and hands-on field experiences, the Envirothon program is an excellent way to supplement environmental education inside and outside the traditional classroom. Envirothon participants gain valuable knowledge and training in ecology and natural resource management principles and practices. Students also step away from the Envirothon experience excited about learning and motivated to pursue careers in environmental studies, environmental law, natural sciences, and natural resource management. Through their participation students gain current, practical knowledge of local ecosystems and sustainability issues from environmental professionals. Winning teams from each state or province advance to Canon Envirothon for an opportunity to compete for recognition, scholarships and prizes. This year’s Canon Envirothon will be held in New Brunswick, Canada.

Alaska State Envirothon Program
Participating teams from around the state complete training throughout the school year in five natural resource categories: Soils and Land Use, Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Wildlife, and Current Environmental Issues. Partnering agencies develop study materials in the fall semester to aid teams in preparation for the state competition. Teachers/Advisors are encouraged to invite local natural resource professionals to their classrooms in order to expose students to natural resource work projects and field equipment.

Statewide Competition
Toward the end of the school year students will participate in the 2012 Alaska Envirothon competition in Palmer, Alaska.  During the statewide event, students’ theoretical and field knowledge is challenged through outdoor field tests under the supervision of natural resources professionals. Students rotate through five field stations—Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Wildlife, Soils, Nonpoint Source pollution—in order to complete hands-on problem-based tests. During these field tests, students are asked to do such things as measure the height of trees, describe nutrient cycles in aquatic systems and identify signs of wildlife. The students also compete in a group presentation that ties concepts from each station together to address the Current Issue, Nonpoint Source pollution. The students will leave the competition with an understanding of real-world issues involving ecology and the environment.

Envirothon Study Guide

To access study materials click on the Student/Adviser or Station Volunteer tab in right column.