Envirothon held at scout reservation
Contest: A team of students from the Coshocton County Career Center are pictured working on one of the tests they were faced with at the OFSWCD Area 3 Envirothon. For more photos, visit www.coshoctonbeacontoday.com. Beacon photo by Beth Scott
COSHOCTON – Hundreds of students had their knowledge of the environment and natural resources tested last week when Coshocton County hosted the OFSWCD Area 3 Envirothon on May 7, at the Muskingum Valley Scout Reservation.
“It’s unique because they compete as a team,” said Deb Bigelow, program administrator of the Coshocton Soil & Water Conservation District. “It’s not just one person answering questions. They can talk and work together as a team.”
There were 50 of those teams at the event and they were made up of students from high schools in Belmont, Carroll, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Knox, Licking, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Tuscarawas and Washington counties. Coshocton County was represented in the contest by six teams. Two came from the Coshocton County Career Center, two from River View High School and two from Ridgewood High School.
Each team consisted of no more than five students from the same school and they rotated between five stations where they were given tests written by local resource people.
The focus of the current environmental issue station changes each year and this year’s test was on sustainable local agriculture/locally grown. Emily Adams from OSU Extension Coshocton Co. and Marissa Mullett from Local Bounty worked together to create the test, which the students had 25 minutes to complete.
“We racked our brains on topics like food labeling, who regulates the use of the term organic and farm practices like crop rotation,” Mullett said.
She had the opportunity to compete in the contest while a student at Ridgewood High School.
“It’s an opportunity to get out and practice what you are learning in class,” Mullett said.
The other stations tested the students on soils, forestry, wildlife and aquatic ecology.
“I hope this gives them a better understanding of the world around them,” Bigelow said.
The envirothon also encourages cooperative decision making and team building.
“Greg Waters, chairman of our board did this and says there are lifelong skills that he learned,” Bigelow said. “There are things these kids will take away from today and always remember.”
The top four placing teams from this event will compete at the Ohio Envirothon Monday and Tuesday, June 9-10, at Salt Fork State Park.
“This is a great opportunity for them (the students) to come out and show their knowledge of environmental issues,” said Zach Wallace from the Coshocton Soil & Water Conservation District office.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
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