Current Environmental Issues in Michigan

Michigan Envirothon presents environmental education in a unique, team based competitive format. The Michigan Envirothon program provides an exciting, hands-on experience to today's students and tomorrow's leaders!

Inspiring environmental stewardship in Michigan's high school students since 1994.

An Introduction to Michigan Envirothon

Established in 1994, this statewide environmental education program for high school students is the largest of its kind. In Envirothon, teams of up to five students and one alternate member utilize resource materials and local resource professionals to gain a knowledge and understanding of the following natural resource subject areas: agriculture, aquatic ecology, energy, forestry, soils/geology, wildlife, and a current environmental issue that varies every year. The Michigan Envirothon program focuses on using the outdoors as a classroom and utilizes diverse "eco-stations" as competition testing sites.

The Competition

Teams compete at regional competitions throughout the state in March of every year. From the regionals, the top 24 teams from around the state then advance to the state competition level in May of each year.

Envirothon teams conduct community outreach projects to address a real life resource concern in their community through hands-on problem solving and community education. At the state competition, teams present on their community outreach projects to a panel of expert judges. They also take written tests at outdoor eco-stations in each of the natural resource subject areas. Test scores and community outreach project scores are combined to determine the overall 1st Place Team who will represent Michigan at the Canon Envirothon, North American Competition.

To learn more about the Michigan Envirothon competition, visit the North American Envirothon website .

Why Michigan Envirothon?

Michigan Envirothon's learning objectives are aligned with the State of Michigan's grade level content expectations (GLCEs) for science curriculum.

Diverse and far-reaching partnerships, both in public and private sectors.

Addresses current and critical environmental issues.

Involves public schools, charter schools, home schools, technical/career centers, nature centers, youth groups, 4-H, FFA and more.

High degree of volunteer involvement from key stakeholders, which helps to keep administrative costs low.

Provides a unique learning opportunity for high school students by paring them with experts from current natural resource related fields

Incorporates energy conservation, agriculture and community outreach projects - the only Envirothon program in North America to do so.

Testimonials

"I really had a wonderful time attending Envirothon. It's a great way to learn about the environment and has opened my eyes more to that type of career choice for myself in the future. Thanks so much for the inspiration to find out what I will do for the rest of my life." - High School student and 2010 Michigan Envirothon Participant.

"Envirothon gives students a real chance to get enthused about doing a project. As adults, we usually think of learning as a goal, but high school students can lose focus of that sometimes... So having a competition really excites them- and they stick with it!" - Ernest Delemeester, New Lothrop High School Teacher and Envirothon Team Advisor.

"I have coached Envirothon teams since I founded the Niles High School Ecology Club in 1994. My team members gain an appreciation of the complexities of the environment and learn to work together as a team! I believe the soils and sustainable agriculture components of the training and competition are most valuable to them, one because we come from an agricultural county, and two, because they are subjects not encountered in science classes at our school." - Eira McDaniel, Niles High School Teacher and Envirothon Team Advisor.