25th Annual Westmoreland County Envirothon - May 3

Posted on 09 April, 2010

Some 60 area high school students to compete

Students from nine area high schools are beginning their final weeks of preparation for the annual Westmoreland County Envirothon, which will be held at the county’s Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg on Monday, May 3.

This exciting academic competition, sponsored by the Westmoreland Conservation District, presents students in grades 9-12 with a variety of challenges related to our natural resources. Students may be asked to measure a tree…analyze water from a stream…or examine soil to identify its characteristics.

Students work as a team to answer questions of fact, and use critical thinking to find solutions to reality-based situations, such as how to balance the use and protection of our natural resources. Topics of the challenge include: forests, soil, wildlife, aquatic environments, and this year’s special issue, which is protecting Pennsylvania's groundwater through urban, agricultural, and environmental planning.

The Westmoreland Conservation District reports that some 60 students are scheduled to participate in this 25th annual competition, representing Burrell, Derry Area Senior, Greensburg Central Catholic, Greensburg Salem, Kiski Area, Mount Pleasant, Southmoreland, and Yough Senior high schools…as well as The Kiski School. Each school has registered at least one team in this year’s competition; Derry Area, Greensburg Salem, Kiski Area, Southmoreland. and Yough Senior high schools…as well as The Kiski School…each have each registered two teams.

 Faculty advisors for the teams are: Amy McGrath, Burrell; Roy Campbell and Lisa Campbell, Derry Area Senior; George Janik, Greensburg Central Catholic; Angelo Ross, Greensburg Salem; Ralph Lemmon, Kiski Area; Nancy Wells, The Kiski School; BettyJo Breakiron, Mount Pleasant; Lindsay DiCasolo and Josh Pajak, Southmoreland; and Greg King, Yough.

The winning Westmoreland County team will go on to compete against winning teams from other counties in the Pennsylvania State Envirothon on Wednesday, May 26 at the PPL Montour Preserve in Danville, Montour County, PA.

State winners move on to the ultimate challenge – a final national/international competition called the Canon Envirothon – that will be held at California State University in Fresno, California during the first full week of August.

In the previous 24 years of competition, Westmoreland County teams have gone on to win the state championship four times . . . placed among the top three teams in the state seven times . . . and competed nationally three times, placing sixth, fifth, and second.

A number of cooperating agencies assist the Westmoreland Conservation District in hosting the county Envirothon, including: The Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Penn State Cooperative Extension Westmoreland County, and the Westmoreland County Bureau of Parks and Recreation.

Corporate contributors play a significant role in generously providing financial and in-kind support for this event.
Special thanks for their support this year go to Kennametal Inc. and the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County.

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The Westmoreland Conservation District was established in 1949, when local farmers, seeking help to conserve their soil and water resources, approached the County Commissioners. As the county has grown and changed in the 61 years since then, the District has responded with new programs to help ensure minimal negative impact on all aspects of the county’s natural wealth – its soils, forests, streams, and open space – as well as its valuable, productive farmland. In addition to its science-based efforts, the District serves as a clearinghouse for conservation information. The District is located in a restored 1880s-era barn now located at 218 Donohoe Road, Greensburg. It maintains a website at www.wcdpa.com.

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