ST. MICHAEL, Pa. – Despite having to dodge some downpours, area highschool college students got here together on Wednesday for the great of the atmosphere.
The annual Cambria County Conservation District Envirothon competitors was held at Disaster’s Edge Environmental Education Center at 1889 Park in St. Michael. The expertise was meant to present college students with a greater understanding of pure sources and instill a dedication towards defending and bettering the atmosphere.
This 12 months, 13 groups from Bishop Carroll Catholic, Blacklick Valley, Northern Cambria, Penn Cambria and Portage Area excessive faculties participated.
Blacklick Valley High School pupil Hanna Bartlett checks out an jap field turtle in the course of the Cambria County Conservation District Envirothon at 1889 Park on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.
“There are five testing stations – aquatics, forestry, wildlife, soils and Waste to Resources,” mentioned Jackie Ritko, environmental training coordinator for the Cambria County Conservation District. “Students start preparing for this in the fall and they work as a team.”
Teams moved from one station to the following each 35 minutes, finishing written exams on every subject.
“For wildlife, the Game Commission put together a test with mounts and different things for them to identify, all based on Pennsylvania wildlife,” Ritko mentioned. “For the soils test, the (Natural Resources Conservation Service) sponsored that. The Bureau of Forestry sponsored the forestry test, and we had the Fish and Boat Commission helping with aquatics, and we went and collected live specimens from the stream for that test.”
The successful workforce advances to the state competitors that will likely be held later within the month at Camp Mount Luther, Mifflinburg, Union County. State winners advance to the nationwide occasion, which will likely be held in July in Ohio.
Ashlyn Hudak, a sophomore at Portage Area High School, mentioned this was her first 12 months taking part within the Envirothon.
“I wanted to be a part of this, and I’m learning more about the environment and the issue we could face if we don’t help to create a better atmosphere for ourselves,” she mentioned. “My family is into fishing, so the aquatics part was interesting to learn about and broaden my horizons. I think more people should do this and become aware about it.”
Penn Cambria High School pupil Austin Wheeler mentioned he ready for the competitors by wanting over environmental info and quizzes.
“My topic was about landfill-related things, so I was looking at the types of landfills and how to recycle,” the junior mentioned. “I feel like more people should get involved with this because you can learn things about the environment that you might not know, especially with these current topics. By becoming better connected to the environment, you’ll want to do more to turn things around.”
Ritko mentioned that by taking part within the Envirothon, college students will hopefully turn out to be more conscious about conservation and the atmosphere of their day by day lives.
“It’s simple things like picking up trash and not littering that can make a difference,” she mentioned. “It’s just that appreciation for the environment and that conservation-mindedness is what I hope they’re gaining from this.”
Kelly Urban is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. She could be reached at (814) 532-5073. Follow her on Twitter @KellyUrban25.