NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL 

May 1, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 198

For more information, contact Rick Mickowski, Delaware Association of Conservation Districts, 302-832-3100, ext. 113, Michelle Jacobs, Delaware Envirothon Chairperson, 302-739-9921, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902. PHOTOS AVAILABLE.

Charter School of Wilmington Team A
Wins 2009 Delaware Envirothon Competition

Kent County’s Big Oak Park and the Delaware Aerospace Education Foundation’s Environmental Outpost provided the perfect setting for an intense day of challenging environmental competition during today’s Delaware Envirothon. Thirteen teams, each consisting of five Delaware high school students, competed for the big win after working hard all school year to prepare for the event.  

Each team answered questions, reviewed specimens and took measurements in topics dealing with aquatic ecology, forestry, soils/land-use, wildlife, and biodiversity in a changing world. The students rotated to five separate eco-stations including one station at a created wetland and stops along the boardwalk trail through the riparian stream corridor in the park.

After more than three hours of testing, the tension eased when Team A from the Charter School of Wilmington was crowned the 2009 state champion for the fourth consecutive year during the awards ceremony sponsored by Del-One Federal Credit Union.  Each team member from the first place team was rewarded with a $3,000 per-year renewable academic scholarship from Wesley College and a $500 scholarship from the Delaware Envirothon. The winning team also received an award plaque to hang in their school, cash and other prizes.

The Charter School of Wilmington Team A also received the highest score in both the forestry and soils categories earning the team an additional $100 cash prize from the Delaware Forestry Association, and an additional $250 cash prize from the Mid-Atlantic Association of Professional Soil Scientists to be used towards purchasing educational supplies.

Polytech High School Team A placed second in the competition and received the $300 Ernest J. Zimmerman Award for use towards environmental education supplies at their school. Team B from the Charter School of Wilmington won third place and received the $150 Dean C. Belt Award and Kent County 4H received the $100 Chairman’s award for fourth place.  Team Meerkats from A. I. DuPont, Sussex Technical High School Team B, and Caesar Rodney High School placed 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th respectively.

All contestants and volunteers received a commemorative T-shirt through the generosity of sponsors and the Canon Envirothon.

The state champions will now train for the 2009 Canon Envirothon to be held Aug. 2 – Aug. 8 at the University of North Carolina in Asheville, North Carolina.

The Delaware Envirothon is sponsored by the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts.  For more information, please contact Michelle Jacobs at 302-739-9921.

The official results are as follows:

First Place Team:     Charter School of Wilmington Team A
                                   1^st Place – Soils/Land Use, Forestry, Biodiversity, Oral Presentation
                                   2^nd Place – Aquatic Ecology                 
                                   3^rd Place - Wildlife                     

Second Place Team:      Polytech High School Team A
                                   1^st Place - Aquatic Ecology
                                   2^nd Place – Biodiversity, Wildlife
                                   3^rd Place - Forestry

Third Place Team:         Charter School of Wilmington Team B
                                   2^nd Place – Forestry
                                   3^rd Place - Aquatic Ecology, Biodiversity, Oral Presentation, Soils/Land-use

            Fourth Place Team:       Kent County 4H
                                  1^st Place - Wildlife
                                  2^nd Place – Oral Presentations