Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Envirothon? Envirothon is North America’s premier natural resource education competition for high school students at the North American and state levels. Envirothon offers both in-class curriculum and hands-on field experiences focused around ecology, natural resource management, and current environmental issues. This unique combination of learning experiences and breadth of study is part of what has made Envirothon a huge success with students and educators across the United States and Canada. The Georgia Envirothon is operated by the Georgia Envirothon Council that manages the State contest. The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Envirothon is operated by the National Conservation Foundation and manages the North American competition. Learn more about the NCF Envirothon by checking out their website, www.envirothon.org.
2. How does the competition work?
Testing involves visiting five stations, one for each study unit, located within easy walking distance of each other at the competition site. Teams move between the competition stations in groups, usually four to five teams per group. At each station, team examinations are administered by a station coordinator. Tests contain many question formats including narrative responses, true/false, fill in the blank, multiple choice, and matching. Participants have 45 minutes per station to complete their testing.
Test questions come from the study materials posted on the "Resources Page" of the Georgia Envirothon web site. Testing includes site investigation, not just recall of study material, to correctly answer many of the questions.
3. Why compete?
The unique combination of curriculum-based, hands-on education and experience has proven to be an ideal way to engage students in the complex issues of managing natural resources to create a better environment. Students are also able to engage and interact with natural resource professionals and peers who have the same ambitions. Additionally, the winning teams at the North American Envirothon level are awarded generous college scholarships!
4. How much does it cost to compete?
Registration is $225. Registration ends February 1,, 2025. Your registration fee goes toward paying for use of the competition site and facility, awards, t-shirts, and general administrative expenses.
5. Is financial help available to pay my team's registration?
It is possible that sponsorship could be available to cover your team’s registration from the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. If you are interested in registration fee assistance, please contact Jennifer Standridge at [email protected]
6. What grades are eligible to compete?
Students enrolled in grades 9-12 are eligible to compete. (Including homeschool groups, science clubs, etc.)
7. How do you put together a team for the Georgia Envirothon?
Teams can be comprised of students from a school, club, or organization (FFA, Girl or Boy Scouts, etc.). Home schooled students may organize to form a team, as well.
8. How many teams can compete from each school?
There is no limit on the number of teams any school, organization, or association may bring to the competition. The Georgia Envirothon reserves the right to raise or limit the number of teams that can participate at competitions should any unforeseen circumstances arise related to space or fairness etc.
9. How many students comprise a team competing at the Georgia Envirothon?
Each team may consist of 4-6 students from the same school or organization.
10. How many students can be on the team for the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Envirothon?
Only 5 students can comprise the state team at the NCF- North American Envirothon. As in the state competition, at least 4 of the original members of the team winning the state competition must participate in the NCF Envirothon. If your team is unable to advance to the NCF Envirothon with 4 original members, your team will lose its right to advance and the second place team will receive the right to advance.
11. How do I prepare my team for the competition?
Register your team with Georgia Envirothon following directions provided on the Registration page. The entities that prepare the resources material will be the entities that will construct and test your students during the competition. Study materials are the source of all questions used for the station examinations.
If you, as an advisor, are new to the Envirothon, you are welcome to contact Envirothon President,Kimberly McCollum at [email protected] on assistance/clarification. Another good contact is your local Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) office.
12. How does the competition work?
1. What is Envirothon? Envirothon is North America’s premier natural resource education competition for high school students at the North American and state levels. Envirothon offers both in-class curriculum and hands-on field experiences focused around ecology, natural resource management, and current environmental issues. This unique combination of learning experiences and breadth of study is part of what has made Envirothon a huge success with students and educators across the United States and Canada. The Georgia Envirothon is operated by the Georgia Envirothon Council that manages the State contest. The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Envirothon is operated by the National Conservation Foundation and manages the North American competition. Learn more about the NCF Envirothon by checking out their website, www.envirothon.org.
2. How does the competition work?
Testing involves visiting five stations, one for each study unit, located within easy walking distance of each other at the competition site. Teams move between the competition stations in groups, usually four to five teams per group. At each station, team examinations are administered by a station coordinator. Tests contain many question formats including narrative responses, true/false, fill in the blank, multiple choice, and matching. Participants have 45 minutes per station to complete their testing.
Test questions come from the study materials posted on the "Resources Page" of the Georgia Envirothon web site. Testing includes site investigation, not just recall of study material, to correctly answer many of the questions.
3. Why compete?
The unique combination of curriculum-based, hands-on education and experience has proven to be an ideal way to engage students in the complex issues of managing natural resources to create a better environment. Students are also able to engage and interact with natural resource professionals and peers who have the same ambitions. Additionally, the winning teams at the North American Envirothon level are awarded generous college scholarships!
4. How much does it cost to compete?
Registration is $225. Registration ends February 1,, 2025. Your registration fee goes toward paying for use of the competition site and facility, awards, t-shirts, and general administrative expenses.
5. Is financial help available to pay my team's registration?
It is possible that sponsorship could be available to cover your team’s registration from the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. If you are interested in registration fee assistance, please contact Jennifer Standridge at [email protected]
6. What grades are eligible to compete?
Students enrolled in grades 9-12 are eligible to compete. (Including homeschool groups, science clubs, etc.)
7. How do you put together a team for the Georgia Envirothon?
Teams can be comprised of students from a school, club, or organization (FFA, Girl or Boy Scouts, etc.). Home schooled students may organize to form a team, as well.
8. How many teams can compete from each school?
There is no limit on the number of teams any school, organization, or association may bring to the competition. The Georgia Envirothon reserves the right to raise or limit the number of teams that can participate at competitions should any unforeseen circumstances arise related to space or fairness etc.
9. How many students comprise a team competing at the Georgia Envirothon?
Each team may consist of 4-6 students from the same school or organization.
10. How many students can be on the team for the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Envirothon?
Only 5 students can comprise the state team at the NCF- North American Envirothon. As in the state competition, at least 4 of the original members of the team winning the state competition must participate in the NCF Envirothon. If your team is unable to advance to the NCF Envirothon with 4 original members, your team will lose its right to advance and the second place team will receive the right to advance.
11. How do I prepare my team for the competition?
Register your team with Georgia Envirothon following directions provided on the Registration page. The entities that prepare the resources material will be the entities that will construct and test your students during the competition. Study materials are the source of all questions used for the station examinations.
If you, as an advisor, are new to the Envirothon, you are welcome to contact Envirothon President,Kimberly McCollum at [email protected] on assistance/clarification. Another good contact is your local Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) office.
12. How does the competition work?
- There is one state wide competition.
- Testing involves visiting five stations, one for each study unit, located within easy walking distance from other stations at the competition site.
- Teams move between competition stations in groups and transition when directed by the station coordinators.
- At each station site, team examinations are administered by the station coordinator and vary in question format.
- Teams may also be given a brief presentation by the station coordinator on ecosystem issues important to that station.
- Teams have 45 minutes per station to complete the test.
- Questions come from the study materials. Since the focus is based on ecosystems, test questions at any station could include questions from other study materials. Site investigation can be a key element to answering test questions correctly.
- The winning team from the State competition will go on to represent Georgia at the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Envirothon held in late July of the same year.
- The Georgia Envirothon pays the team registration fee for the winning state team to attend the NCF Envirothon event.
