Penncrest students go the distance in Envirothon competition
A group of Penncrest High School students showed off their skills in the great outdoors by winning first-place in the Canon Envirothon, a competition for students in the United States and Canada.
The 22nd annual event, sponsored by Canon U.S.A., tested the environmental science and natural resource knowledge of 45 teams from American high schools and seven Canadian teams.
This year’s Envirothon was held during the first week of August in Asheville, N.C. Students competed in categories of soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife and biodiversity by completing hands on activities, written tests and oral presentations.
One hands-on component of the Envirothon was a soil test, where students were required to identify the texture, type and pH level of soil and determine what crops and wildlife would thrive in such an environment. They were also required to identify animal pelts and tracks, and recite information such as the diameter, type and height of trees.
The winning Penncrest team shared $25,000 in scholarships from Canon and received Canon video equipment for their school.
Penncrest Envirothon advisors Mark Samilenko and Mandy Meltz both teach ninth-grade environmental science.
Samilenko said that in the roughly 16 years Penncrest has participated in the event, it was won twice before: in 2000 at the competition in Nova Scotia, and in 2005 in Missouri.
“It was tremendous to watch the kids work for it and put it all together. It’s a tremendous feeling to be a part of that. Even though it is the third time we’ve done it, it never gets old,” he said of the competition.
Each Envirothon team is made up of five students in grades nine through 12. Penncrest teachers in their earth science classes hand-picked students.
“We choose students we know are bright, motivated, have an interest in environmental science and can work together with good team chemistry,” Samilenko said.
To reach the national competition, students must win the county and state competition in spring. This year, students began practicing in January for the hands-on and academic component, and for the competition’s oral section, which requires a team to put together a presentation and answer questions from the judges on an environmental topic. This year’s topic was biodiversity.
“The kids are very intelligent and motivated. It’s a lot of hard work and these kids really enjoy it. They are really great kids and we have been blessed by having good teams throughout the years,” he said.
Katie Ferguson, 17, is a three-year member of Penncrest’s Envirothon team and plans to compete next year.
Ferguson, of Upper Providence, is a senior at Penncrest High School and plans to go to college to study environmental engineering after graduation.
“To win was amazing, because we had heard about the teams from our school that won before and last year we came in third place. It’s such an amazing feeling to know that we are the best,” she said.
Ferguson enjoys learning about new environmental science topics and making new friends through her time on the team.
“I was asked to join, and I talked to students who had done it before, who said it was a really great opportunity. I have never regretted it. It’s a lot of studying and a lot of work but it’s worth it,” she said.
Executive director of the Envirothon Clay Burns said the competition is a learning opportunity for students. He feels that students learn teamwork and problem-solving skills through the experience and hopes they gain an appreciation for the earth’s natural resources.
“I hope they come away with an understanding that their actions, whether directly or indirectly, will determine the future of natural resources. It is our mission to help inform students about natural resources and the environment,” he said.
The 22nd annual event, sponsored by Canon U.S.A., tested the environmental science and natural resource knowledge of 45 teams from American high schools and seven Canadian teams.
This year’s Envirothon was held during the first week of August in Asheville, N.C. Students competed in categories of soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife and biodiversity by completing hands on activities, written tests and oral presentations.
One hands-on component of the Envirothon was a soil test, where students were required to identify the texture, type and pH level of soil and determine what crops and wildlife would thrive in such an environment. They were also required to identify animal pelts and tracks, and recite information such as the diameter, type and height of trees.
The winning Penncrest team shared $25,000 in scholarships from Canon and received Canon video equipment for their school.
Penncrest Envirothon advisors Mark Samilenko and Mandy Meltz both teach ninth-grade environmental science.
Samilenko said that in the roughly 16 years Penncrest has participated in the event, it was won twice before: in 2000 at the competition in Nova Scotia, and in 2005 in Missouri.
“It was tremendous to watch the kids work for it and put it all together. It’s a tremendous feeling to be a part of that. Even though it is the third time we’ve done it, it never gets old,” he said of the competition.
Each Envirothon team is made up of five students in grades nine through 12. Penncrest teachers in their earth science classes hand-picked students.
“We choose students we know are bright, motivated, have an interest in environmental science and can work together with good team chemistry,” Samilenko said.
To reach the national competition, students must win the county and state competition in spring. This year, students began practicing in January for the hands-on and academic component, and for the competition’s oral section, which requires a team to put together a presentation and answer questions from the judges on an environmental topic. This year’s topic was biodiversity.
“The kids are very intelligent and motivated. It’s a lot of hard work and these kids really enjoy it. They are really great kids and we have been blessed by having good teams throughout the years,” he said.
Katie Ferguson, 17, is a three-year member of Penncrest’s Envirothon team and plans to compete next year.
Ferguson, of Upper Providence, is a senior at Penncrest High School and plans to go to college to study environmental engineering after graduation.
“To win was amazing, because we had heard about the teams from our school that won before and last year we came in third place. It’s such an amazing feeling to know that we are the best,” she said.
Ferguson enjoys learning about new environmental science topics and making new friends through her time on the team.
“I was asked to join, and I talked to students who had done it before, who said it was a really great opportunity. I have never regretted it. It’s a lot of studying and a lot of work but it’s worth it,” she said.
Executive director of the Envirothon Clay Burns said the competition is a learning opportunity for students. He feels that students learn teamwork and problem-solving skills through the experience and hopes they gain an appreciation for the earth’s natural resources.
“I hope they come away with an understanding that their actions, whether directly or indirectly, will determine the future of natural resources. It is our mission to help inform students about natural resources and the environment,” he said.
