Area High School Students Train for Upcoming Environmental Contest

Curtis – Nearly 50 students from area schools will meet in North Platte at the McDonald-Belton Campus of Mid Plains Community College this coming Wednesday, February 1, 2006 to receive training for the Mid Plains Regional Envirothon Contest.

The Envirothon is a program for 9th-12th grade students to learn more about our natural environment. Teams may be composed of FFA students, science students, 4-H members, or any student interested in natural resources. The contest tests students’ knowledge on subjects such as soils, aquatics, forestry, wildlife, range, environmental policy, and one special topic of national interest. This year’s special topic is “Water Stewardship in a Changing Climate.” In order to qualify for the Nebraska Envirothon Contest, 5-member teams must first compete at a regional contest. The winning teams from each regional, plus eight wildcard teams, are invited to the Nebraska State Envirothon Competition. Winners of the state competition, held May 6, will advance to the Canon Envirothon in Canada.

The Envirothon Training Session, organized for a second year by the Middle Republican and Twin Platte Natural Resources Districts, gives contestants a unique opportunity to spend time with an area professional learning more about environmental issues, ecosystems, and topography. Presenters include Brad Carlson of the Twin Platte NRD/NRCS, who will speak about Range; Steve Brezenski of NE Game & Parks, to present on Aquatics; Dan Smith of the Middle Republican NRD, reviewing Policy; Chuck Markley, Soil Scientist with the Lincoln County NRCS to present on Soil; Rachel Allison of WCREC, who will present on Forestry; and TJ Walker of NE Game & Parks, to present on Wildlife. Students will also learn tips and tricks to help them navigate the contest as a team.

The keynote speaker for the day will be Jim Goeke, who is a research hydro-geologist and a professor with the University of Nebraska Conservation and Survey Division at the West Central Research and Extension Center in North Platte. Goeke will present this year's special topic: “Water Stewardship in a Changing Climate.” Goeke will be presenting at 9:45 AM in the theatre at the McDonald-Belton Campus of Mid Plains Community College. The public is invited to attend this portion of the event.

The Mid-Plains Regional Envirothon Contest will be held Wednesday, February 23 at NCTA (Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture) in Curtis with registration in the college gym at 8:45
a.m. CT. Teachers must register with the MRNRD ahead of time by calling (800) 873-5613.

Sponsors for the Envirothon program are: Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Nebraska Forest Service, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, Society for Range Management, University of Nebraska IANR, Nebraska Department of Education and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.

January 27, 2006