July 20, 2000
Vol. 30, No. 225

For further information contact Dot Abbott-Donnelly, 302-697-4000; Martha Pileggi, 302-739-4411 or Nancy Rolli, 302-739-4506.

Delaware Environmental Champions to Compete in Nova Scotia

Five team members and their advisors are preparing for the environmental challenge of their lives. Team A members from the Charter School of Wilmington, representing the State of Delaware, will travel to Nova Scotia next week to test their knowledge in aquatics forestry, soils, wildlife, and wetlands. Their competition: State ENVIRTHON™ high school teams from all corners of the United States and other countries.

“This is the 5th International ENVIROTHON™ competition attended by Delaware high school students,” boasts Dean Belt, chairperson for the Delaware ENVIROTHON™ Planning Committee. “Since last September, Charter School of Wilmington students, along with students from 15 other Delaware high schools and environmental clubs, have worked to enhance their knowledge of Delaware’s natural resources.”

The learning process teaches how to identify plant and animal species, evaluate their habitats, develop conservation action measures and control methods to help preserve the species. “Along with learning to identify Delaware’s top 20 trees, these students can tell the difference between a Fallsington and Evesboro soil just by texture,” said Belt. They can also tell you what aquatic invertebrates live under rocks in flowing streams and the value of wetlands to blue heron.

The concept of an ENVIROTHON began in 1979 in one Pennsylvania county with creation of an annual competition between high school students based entirely on environmental elements. The concept not only appealed to the students, but the idea become engaging and soon spread throughout the United States. In 1995, the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts took steps toward holding an annual ENVIROTHON™.

“This could not happen without the dedication of many people from various environmental agencies and groups,” said Belt. From September through the end of April, students and advisors are offered training in five disciplines, including oral presentations and instruction in each discipline (aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and a fifth subject).

During the first part of May, the Delaware Planning Committee organizes one full-day statewide environmental challenge to teams of high school students. The outdoor event is held in different locations throughout the state corresponding with the fifth subject category, which changes yearly according to the Canon National ENVIROTHON™ Committee. This year, the 2000 Delaware ENVIROTHON™ was held on May 5 at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Each of the five-ecostation test sites incorporated the fifth subject area: wetlands. Non-point source pollution will be the ‘floating’ subject area for the 2001 Delaware and National ENVIROTHON™.

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Document no. 40-01/00/07/22

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