Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon Program
What is the Envirothon?
The Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon is a team-based natural resources competition for high school students. Students who participate learn stewardship and management concepts and work to solve real-world environmental problems. The program is field-oriented, community-based, and gives students an opportunity to work with natural resource professionals. Click Here for a video overview of the Dominion Energy Envirothon competition!
Who makes up a team and what do they do?
Students work in teams of five. Throughout the school year students prepare to compete at the local level, qualify to then compete at the area level and the top three teams from the six Soil & Water Conservation District areas in the state compete to be the State Winner. These teams of high school students are tested on their knowledge of natural resources-soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics and a current environmental issue. Students visit five “in-the-field” test stations where written and hands-on problem solving is required along with an oral presentation formulating a strategy to address a specific environmental issue they’ve been presented with. The event is competitive but education is the bottom line.
Teams can be created through school clubs, classes, home school groups, 4-H groups, scout troops, local nature centers etc. The only requirement is that the team has a minimum of five students (who are in 9th-12th grade) and one adult advisor/chaperone.
Additional Resources & Information:
- New Promo Video
- 2022-2023 Envirothon Written Report
- Check out this video about the Virginia Dominion Envirothon from a Coach’s perspective
- Information about this year’s Current Competition
- Learning Objectives/Oral Presentation Problem
- Envirothon Study Resources & Practice Questions
- 2023-2024 Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon Kickoff Event Recording
Want to get involved?
Reach out to your local Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) to learn more, or email maura.christian@vaswcd.org to get connected to your local SWCD. Teams will need to get in touch with their local SWCD by the winter in order to be included in the local and/or regional competitions that occur in the spring. Check out https://vaswcd.org/current-competition/ to see the upcoming training and/or competition in your area. The top three teams from each of Virginia’s six regions will advance on to the State Competition in mid/late May each spring.
Virginia’s Envirothon program is also supported through the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund. Proceeds from the sale of the Bay license plates help citizens keep the bay healthy by restoring wetlands, planting buffers around waterways, promoting marine life restoration, decreasing pollution and providing educational programs like Envirothon. To purchase a Bay license plate visit: http://www.dmv.state.va.us/vehicles/#splates/info.asp?idnm=CB