New York State Envirothon Competition Winners From Ulster County’s The Mount Academy Will Compete at the International Competition in Geneva, NY This Summer
2024 Competitions Focus on Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today announced that New York will host the 2024 National Conservation Foundation (NCF)-Envirothon, an international environmental and natural resources education competition for high school students. Winning teams from across the United States, including New York State, and countries including Canada, Singapore, and China will travel to this year’s competition, which will be held from July 28 to August 3 at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. This is the first time ever that New York State has hosted the competition.
Commissioner Ball said, “The annual Envirothon competition series is a critical part of environmental and agricultural education in our state and across the globe, and I’m excited that New York will host the final competition this year. With climate change continuing to impact us all, it has never been more inspiring to see passionate young people from around the world preparing to be ambassadors for the environment and our natural resources in the years to come. I congratulate our New York teams from 41 counties that will be attending the competition in Geneva later this summer and wish all competitors the best of luck.”
Commissioner Ball additionally congratulated the student winners of the annual New York State Envirothon Competition, which took place May 22 and 23 at SUNY Cortland. The team from The Mount Academy in Ulster County was named New York State Champion at the long-standing hands-on environmental competition, which challenges students on their knowledge of natural resource science, public speaking, and civic engagement. Red Creek Central School from Wayne County and Skaneateles High School in Onondaga County were awarded second and third place.
The winning team from The Mount Academy will travel the short distance to the International NCF-Envirothon to represent New York State this summer in Geneva, New York. Each member of the team received a scholarship, and the team will compete against other top teams from the United States, China, Singapore, and Canada.
The NCF-Envirothon competition is a series of field station tests in the areas of soils/land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and an emerging environmental issue. Throughout the week-long competition, students will demonstrate their knowledge of these areas through written tests and interactive stations featuring Geneva’s natural resources. The teams will also prepare oral presentations on this year’s current issue, “Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future.”
In the New York State Envirothon, 41 teams from across New York State competed in environmental science and natural resource management written and oral tests during the two-day competition. The teams, made up of five students from 9th to 12th grades, qualified at the regional or local level to receive invitations to the state competition.
Conservation District Employees' Association President Caitlin Stewart said, "The New York State Envirothon brings together the best and brightest high school students for an outdoor competition focused on natural resources. They gave oral presentations on the 2024 topic Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future, then took tough exams in wildlife, aquatics ecology, forestry, current issue, and soils. I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with many students, and I can say with confidence that our natural resources are in good hands with the future stewards of our world."
The 2024 New York State Envirothon was made possible through the contributions of several sponsors and partnering agencies, including the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The Department’s Division of Land and Water Resources works to protect New York's land and water through farmland protection, farmland conservation, and proactive environmental stewardship programs. Many federal and state environmental agencies, soil and water conservation districts, and higher education institutions provided expertise and helped to organize the event.
The New York State Envirothon Committee is still looking for major donations and event sponsors along with volunteers for the 2024 International NCF-Envirothon later this summer.
About the New York State Envirothon
The New York State Envirothon is coordinated by the New York State Envirothon Committee consisting of members of the New York State Conservation District Employees Association, New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, and volunteers. The program services hundreds of high school students throughout New York State and the five city boroughs. Winning teams from regional and county Envirothon competitions advance to the state level and then to the National Envirothon, earning awards and scholarships at each level. The program is funded from contributions and grants from individuals, businesses, and organizations. Contributions are tax deductible through the New York State Environmental Education Foundation, and a portion of all contributions go towards the program. Additional information about the program and sponsorship opportunities can be found at www.nysenvirothon.net.
Sponsors ofthe 2024 New York State Envirothon include:
ALCOA Foundation
Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
NY Association of Conservation Districts (NYACD)
NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets and the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee
NYS Conservation District Employees’ Association, Inc (NYSCDEA)
