NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
August 14, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 347
For more information, contact Michelle Jacobs, Community Relations Officer, 302-739-9921; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Charter School of Wilmington takes 4th place
at 2009 Canon Envirothon national competition
A five-member team of high school students from Charter School of Wilmington took fourth place in the Canon Envirothon, North America’s largest high school environmental competition, held during the first week of August. The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the weeklong national competition held at the University of North Carolina-Asheville and sponsored by Canon U.S.A., Inc.
The team from Wilmington Charter School – consisting of Lauren Bleakney, Rebecca Roelofs, Erin McMillan, Neelima Agrawal, and Mitali Desai – qualified to represent Delaware in the national competition after placing first among teams from seven schools and a 4-H club who competed in the Delaware Envirothon competition held April 30.
The Wilmington Charter team advisor, Beenu Gupta, said the girls were well prepared and that she was proud of the fact her team has placed in the top five during the last three Envirothon competitions, even winning the national competition in 2008.
More than 260 teenagers from 45 U.S. states and seven Canadian provinces studied environmental issues and resource conservation, while competing for a share of more than $125,000 in scholarships and Canon products. The Canon Envirothon tests teams on their knowledge of soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife and a current environmental issue. Additionally, students must prepare and give an oral presentation based on the current issue.
This year’s competition issue was "Biodiversity in a Changing World." Competing teams analyzed the long-term and short-term impacts of natural environmental occurrences and human activities on genes, species and ecosystems, relative to how each may influence or directly impact their future.
The event also includes social, cultural and educational activities organized by the Canon Envirothon Host Committee, a full week of activity with hardly a minute to spare. Sunday, the arrival day, included an opening ceremony and a presentation of state/province flags followed by a team trading session and ice cream social. Monday was a full day of training and Tuesday was a full day of testing. Wednesday was the day to unwind with a day-long trip to the Cherokee Indian Reservation which borders the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trip included visits to the museum, Indian village, gem mine, and arts and crafts center.
Everyone was back to work again on Thursday as they received training all morning on the current environmental issue, which gives them the information they need to develop their oral presentations. Teams were then sequestered for nine hours in order to prepare their oral presentations to be given the next morning.
The preliminary round of oral presentations began at 8 a.m. on Friday morning and ended at noon. After lunch the top five teams were announced with the Charter team taking first place in the preliminary rounds of the oral presentations. Those teams with the top five scores in the preliminary round had to give their oral presentations a second time to a separate set of judges. From this score their overall placement was determined.
On Friday evening Charter team members were each presented a $2,000 Canon scholarship during the closing ceremony and awards program for their fourth place finish. They were also honored for their winning oral presentation.
More than 500,000 students competed on the local level throughout North America during the past year to earn the privilege of representing their state, province or territory at the Canon Envirothon.
“At nationals, I was able to meet so many new people from all across North America. Envirothon brings together young adults who share a common passion for the environment, and who are willing to expand their knowledge of their surroundings,” said team co-captain, graduating senior Rebecca Roelofs. “I am incredibly grateful to Envirothon for increasing my awareness of the environment I live in.”
The Delaware Envirothon is sponsored by the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts. Members of the planning committee represent the Sussex Conservation District, the Kent Conservation District, the New Castle Conservation District, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the Delaware Department of Agriculture, Delaware Forest Service, the University of Delaware - Cooperative Extension, Delaware Nature Society, Artesian Water Company, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Delaware Center for Inland Bays, and the Delaware Solid Waste Authority.
If you are interested in learning more about the Delaware Envirothon program please visit www.delawareenvirothon.org. For more highlights about the Canon Envirothon and for pictures from the 2009 event please visit www.envirothon.org.
