how the envirothon works a basic introduction for our team
TRANSCRIPT
How the Envirothon Works
A Basic Introduction for Our Team
We will prepare this year
• To compete at a one day State environmental competition in May
• High School students from all over Massachusetts will be there
• ~500 people!
A basic understanding of ecosystems is essential
• FIRST STEP • Identifying: • Plants• Animals• Soils• Aquatic organisms
This is why the Envirothon program works
• Students (no coach/teacher help!) work with their team of five to:
• Answer 25 questions per ecostation that involve:
• Plant, Animal, Soils, & Aquatics ID
• Along with a basic understanding of the environment
5 basic topics in competition
• 5 basic topics in competition • Forestry Ecostation- 75 points • Wildlife Ecostation- 75 points • Soils Ecostation- 75 points• Aquatics Ecostation- 75 points (All ecostations, 25 questions, 3 points each)• Current Issue Presentation - 100 points (15 minute presentation by students with 10 minutes of questions by judges)
• So… 75% of team score is ecostation tests, 25% of score is the presentation (based on your research and community work on the Current Issue)
Forestry• Native trees/shrubs• Latin names• Common names• Winter buds are critical!• leaves, bark, fruit• Typical habitat• Learn to use the field guide
book!• You can use it at the
competition
Wildlife
• Tracks• Scat• Fur/hair• Bones/skulls• Evidence of feeding• Dens• Sounds• Movement• Behavior
Fisher
Turkey tracks
Deer scat
Soils
• Understand the basic soil types
• Parent material• How they feel• Colors• Size of particles• Where typically found• Soil profiles- soil pit
Envirothon EcostationTeam identifies soils
Digging a soil pit
• Allows you to see the soil profile
Aquatics• Collect & ID aquatic
insects & plants• Record any other aquatic
life forms found (amphibians)
• Measure stream flow• Oxygen concentration• pH• Understanding the
importance of wetlands• Where is your watershed?
Current Issue• Research- understand the
issue basics• Get to know your community:
• Interview• Collect data• Write • Debate
• Perfect your public speaking• Find an issue that really
interests you and is a practical step for your community
• Implement!
Put all of your work on the Current Issue together
• Each team member should speak
(~3 minutes/student x 5 students = 15 minutes)
• Practice!• Anticipate questions• Each student be
prepared to answer a question
Whether you win or not
• You’ll discover that winning isn’t as important as what you will learn about the environment
• Guaranteed to change your world!
:)• Have FUN!