Advisor: Ms. Iticovici
Envirothon is an outdoor, hands-on competition for high school students, coordinated by the Northampton County Conservation District each April, in which students from local districts demonstrate their knowledge of ecological and environmental issues specific to Pennsylvania. In preparation for the event, Pen Argyl students may participate in club activities and/or enroll in the course at the high school, which covers the topics assessed during the competition and facilitates student readiness for the event. Teams of students demonstrate their knowledge during a rotation of five topic stations: Wildlife, Forestry, Aquatic Ecology, Soils, and Current Issues (a specific area of conservational focus is highlighted each year for this station). The top three overall best-scoring teams receive plaques and prizes. Top-scoring teams for each individual station are also presented with acknowledgments and prizes at the conclusion of the event in April. The first-place team from Northampton County will then compete with the winners from other counties during a more intensive competition held in May.
In addition to the competitive Station event, students have an opportunity to enjoy various presentations provided by local environmental agencies. Often this includes models, interactive discussions, and live animal presentations. Envirothon is engaging, educational, and a lot of fun, especially for those interested in helping preserve the environment and making a positive impact in the natural world.