Envirothon Blog

Michigan Envirothon State Competition

Fri, 11 May 2012 01:38:00 GMT

High School teams from throughout Michigan are currently at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie for the annual Michigan Envirothon State Competition.

Check out the Michigan Envirothon Facebook page for competition updates direct from LSSU.

Good Luck Teams!!!

2012 Leader Schools

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:56:00 GMT

Thank you Leader Schools!

I would like to recognize the following schools for their designation as 2012 Michigan Envirothon Leader Schools! Thank you and Good Luck!

Conservation Commandos from Hillsdale High School

Green Turtles from Macomb Math Science Technology Center

E.J. Bison from New Buffalo High School

Great Opportunity for Educators!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:53:00 GMT

Register for the Michigan Science Teachers Association annual conference and visit the Michigan Envirothon booth! While at the conference, take advantage of a great opportunity by registering for the Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support (MEECS) unit trainings. Sessions are FREE to all registered participants and will cover units on: Air Quality & Climate Change, Ecosystems & Biodiversity, Energy Resources, Land Use, Water Quality, and Outdoor Education. Register for MEECS training

Envirothon Manual

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:41:00 GMT

Teams around the state are forming and beginning to prepare for the 2012 Regional and State Envirothon competitions! The Michigan Envirothon Manual is available online for current and potential teams. Michigan Envirothon is also here to help your team have a rewarding and remarkable experience. If you would like assistance contacting resource professionals in your area, please contact the Michigan Envirothon office.

Get Published! Envirothon Essay Contest

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:31:00 GMT

Michigan Envirothon

Essay Contest

Michigan Envirothon wants to hear, in YOUR words, what Envirothon means to you!

Michigan Envirothon 2011 participants, please take a moment to share your experiences and take the opportunity to inspire, educate or illuminate your peers, Envirothon supporters of all ages, and those who may have never heard of the program. The winning essay will be published in the Michigan Envirothon 2011 Annual Report. Runners up will be posted on our website and/or facebook page.

Topic: Michigan Envirothon and Me.

You may choose to focus on any element, specific topic or experience from Envirothon. You may include: what you learned, what you liked, how the competition has effected you, a specific event/experience/moment you enjoyed or challenged you, as long as you are writing about Michigan Envirothon from your experience and perspective, only your creativity limits the spin you take.

Eligibility: Open to Michigan Envirothon 2011 participants

Deadline: December 16th, 2011

Envirothon, Your Outdoor Classroom!

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:32:00 GMT

Does Your Classroom Look Like This...

It can with Michigan Envirothon!

Michigan Envirothon is a program that engages high school students in learning about environmental stewardship, community service and teamwork. Envirothon is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about environmental issues from natural resource professionals. Students use their new skills to compete in an outdoors, hands-on competition against other teams from across Michigan.

How it Works
Michigan Envirothon is an environmental education competition designed to foster critical thinking, wise stewardship and community involvement. Teams of five 9th - 12th grade students are tested on seven conservation related topics including agriculture, aquatic ecology, energy, forestry, soils/geology, wildlife and a current environmental issue selected each year. Each team also completes a community outreach project to address a natural resource concern in their local community.

The first round of competitions are held in March at regional locations around the state. The top teams, including at least two teams from each region, advance to the State Competition. The 2012 State Competition will be held on May 9th - 11th at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie. The top team from Michigan Envirothon will go on to compete against teams from the U.S and Canada in the Canon Envirothon July 22nd - July 28th at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.

Michigan Envirothon Welcomes Angela Sandusky

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:42:00 GMT

Michigan Envirothon is pleased to announce the arrival of our new Michigan Envirothon Coordinator. Recently, Ben Wickerham, our program coordinator for the last two years moved on to another position in the field of natural resource conservation with the Pheasants Forever organization. Even more recently, the Michigan Envirothon steering committee happily discovered the perfect candidate to take on the role of Envirothon Coordinator and to take the Michigan Envirothon program to the next level: Angela Sandusky.

In Ben's words: "Leaving the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts in my role as Envirothon Coordinator was a very difficult and bittersweet decision. Over the past two years, I have fallen in love with the core mission of Envirothon and the impact it has on young people. I hope some of our volunteers' amazing traits of dedication, creativity and passion have rubbed off on me during this time! For the time spent working with the outstanding educators and supporters of Michigan Envirothon, I know I leave the position richer in life experiences and with a greater passion for environmental stewardship than when I began. I hope to continue 'inspiring environmental stewardship in Michigan's high school students' from my new position and hope to stay in touch with the Envirothon community. I've seen wonderful signs that indicate the best years of Michigan Envirothon are yet to come! Best wishes to Angela and best wishes to all in the coming 2012 Michigan Envirothon Competition!"

In Angela's words:"I caught my first fish with my bare hands (it was more of a minnow really) in the creek that flowed through my family's farm in southeast Michigan. This memory and others like it have fueled my life long love of and passion for Michigan's natural resources. I spent the last five years as a non formal, outdoor and environmental educator with the Michigan DNR. I'm passionate about inspiring stewardship and believe that for Michigan's future we must empower and educate our youth. By engaging young people through activities such as the Michigan Envirothon we not only create future stewards, we also strengthen Michigan for all its citizens. Michigan Envirothon has the potential to reach every high school student in the state giving them hands on, real life and life changing opportunities to experience their world and make them engaged citizens and leaders in their community. This is awesome potential and I am honored to have the opportunity to work with such a great program and dedicated bunch of educators, sponsors and team leaders!"

Angela may be contacted at (517) 930-7449 or via email at mienvirothon@macd.org. For information regarding the 2012 Michigan Envirothon competition, visit www.michiganenvirothon.org.

Welcome Angela!

Michigan Envirothon at Shawhaven Farm This Saturday!

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:24:00 GMT

Looking for a fun way to enjoy the beautiful fall weather this weekend?

Bring your family, bring your friends and join us at Shawhaven Farm Saturday, October 8 from 4:00pm to 8:30pm.

Michigan Envirothon is pleased to be holding the Fall Fundraiser at Shawhaven Farm. Shawhaven is a great place filled with fun fall activities including an 8 acre corn maze and a haunted house and ME is pleased to be working with them on our annual Fall Fundraiser event! In addition to the regular activities at the farm, Michigan Envirothon holding a silent auction and pumpkin decorating for the young and young at heart. Top it off with fresh cider and donuts and you have the recipe for a great day!

Proceeds of this event will help fund Michigan Envirothon for the 2012 season.

Visit michiganenvirothon.org for further details and learn more about Shawhaven Farm by visiting their websites: Shawhaven Farm Shawhaven Haunted Farm

Join us on Saturday and Support Michigan Envirothon!!!

Michigan Envirothon Fall Fundraiser at Shawhaven Farm!

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:56:00 GMT

Join your friends for a special day of fun and thrills at Shawhaven Farm and Support Michigan Envirothon!!

An Envirothon silent auction is planned and special Envirothon activities will be available in addition to all Shawhaven fun and spooky attractions!

Enjoy a day on the farm. Decorate your own pumpkin, enjoy fresh cider and donuts, visit the animals and test your skills in the 8 Acre corn maze! In addition the haunted Samara’s Boarding House awaits and for the brave of heart - the Last Ride is a must!

Come to Shawhaven Farm on Saturday, October 8 from 4:00 pm - 8:30 pm and Support Michigan Envirothon!

Learn More

Shawhaven Farm website

Shawhaven Haunted Farm website

Raise Your Voice to Save EE!

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:51:00 GMT

Supporters of Environmental Education in Michigan,

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has voted to eliminate all federal funding (just shy of $10m last year) for the Office of Environmental Education at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); your help is needed to make sure this program does not go away permanently!

This is devastating news for anyone in the environmental education community that has received an EPA environmental education grant over the last 20 years, or participated in the Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) or participated in the National Environmental Education Foundation’s many initiatives. All of the National Environmental Education Act (NEEA) initiatives have helped to advance environmental knowledge and understanding. To eliminate programs like these would be a huge step backwards in environmental education nationwide. Not only will this Bill devastate EE nationwide, it also includes “riders” that would be devastating for the Clean Air/Water Act, the Endangered Species Act and over 100 other environmental programs.

You can help today by contacting your Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives by close of business this Friday July 22; tell your Rep to vote NO on the FY 2012 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act when it comes to a vote on the House Floor (which may be as soon as this weekend). Please visit http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ to find your Representative and explain to them how environmental education programs at EPA are critical for preparing Americans for the clean energy economy and addressing mounting environmental challenges.

Thanks in advance for making your voice heard and for taking action to save EPA’s Office of Environmental Education!

New Lothop Envirothon Team Needs Your Support!

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:26:00 GMT

    The New Lothrop High School Team from New Lothrop, Michigan is now gearing up for the 2011 Canon North American Envirothon, this year being held July 24-29 in Sackville, New Brunswick. We are looking forward to having New Lothrop represent Michigan in this year's competition, but we'll need YOUR help in getting them there!
    We realize that budgets are as tight as ever, but please remember that your support of the Michigan Envirothon is vital to the success of the program. We hope to send a well-prepared Michigan team to Canada this year to win it all, but this will require the added expenses of covering training materials, travel and registration costs and additional program support. At this time, we're asking for your support for this year's Canon Envirothon competitors and the Michigan Envirothon representatives traveling in support of the team. Please take a look at your budget and consider committing $50 or more to support this year's Michigan Envirothon Team.
    We want to show the Canon Envirothon that Michigan KNOWS environmental education... and it all starts with your support! Please send donations to Michigan Envirothon, care of MACD, at 3001 Coolidge Rd, Suite 250 in East Lansing, Michigan, 48823. Checks can be made to MACD, or you may also donate via credit card.  Feel free to contact Envirothon at (517) 930-7449 for more information.
    This year's high school team representing Michigan at the North American Envirothon Competition will benefit greatly from your generosity to the program.

Michigan Envirothon State Competition - A Great Event!

Mon, 16 May 2011 16:10:00 GMT

The Michigan Envirothon 2011 State Competition was a great success! Thank you to the hard working teams, their team advisers and the many volunteers that made the competition a fun and rewarding experience for everyone involved.

The top three overall finishers are as follows: First Place: New Lothrop High School Hornets; Second Place: Iron Mountain / Kingsford High School Stream Savers; Third Place: Branch Area Career Center Team Legit. A full list of winning teams and awards will be provided through a press release, available the week of May 16th.

The State Competition is Underway!

Thu, 12 May 2011 16:01:00 GMT

The Michigan Envirothon State Competition is underway at Fort Custer in Augusta Michigan!

We will be posting live from the event on Thursday afternoon May 12 and Friday May 13 so check back to learn the latest on event happenings.

2011 Envirothon Teams

Mon, 16 May 2011 16:12:00 GMT

Here is the line up of high school teams competing in the Michigan Envirothon State Competition. Go Teams!

Team #1:   The Bittersweet Destroyers - Oakland Schools Technical Campus NW
Team #2: Fantastic Chloroplastics - Roseville High School
Team #3:   Bryophytes - Niles High School
Team #4: The Chilly Penguins - Oakland Schools Technical Campus SE
Team #5   Hopping Hedgehog Hobledehoys - Glen Lake High School
Team #6 Hornets - New Lothrop High School
Team #7   Team Legit - Branch Area Career Center
Team #8   The City Kids - Oakland Schools Technical Campus SE
Team #9   Smells Like a Tree - Glen Lake High School
Team #10 Early Bird, Dirty Worm - Glen Lake High School
Team #11 Poseidon's Vixens - Caro High School
Team #12 Tree Huggers - Oakland Schools Technical Campus SW p.m.
Team #13 Conservation Comandos #1 - Hillsdale High School
Team #14 Branch Area Careers Center Team II - Branch Area Careers Center
Team #15 Tritan's Toilers - Caro High School
Team #16 GrEEn Turtles - Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center
Team #17 Earth Element - Glen Lake High School
Team #18 Green Revolution - Glen Lake High School
Team #19 Branch Area Careers Center Team III - Branch Area Careers Center
Team #20 Stream Savers - Iron Mountain / Kingsford High School
Team #21 Conservation Comandos #2 - Hillsdale High School
Team #22 Herbal Essences - Oakland Schools Technical Campus a.m.
Team #23 The Underdogs - Ithaca High School

Michigan Envirothon Window Cling Fundraiser Drive

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:44:00 GMT

Michigan Envirothon announces the launch of their new Window Cling fundraiser drive for the 2011 Michigan high school Envirothon Teams!

These colorful clings are being sold exclusively through Michigan Envirothon Teams as a way to generate funds to offset program participation costs. Not only will you be able to support a local team with the purchase of a window cling, you will also be showing your support of the Michigan Envirothon program by proudly displaying the cling in your car, home or office window.

The 2011 clings are currently available through Michigan Envirothon Teams for $10 each. From each cling sold, teams will be able to keep and use the fundraising revenue to help offset their community outreach project, team registration, or travel expenses.

Order your 2011 Michigan Envirothon Window Cling today by contacting your local Envirothon Team's host school. To find the Envirothon Team nearest you, visit the Michigan Envirothon Window Cling Fundraiser webpage to view a complete listing of 2011 Envirothon schools.

"Know Envirothon, Know Nature."