It was just announced that the Ellison Miles Geotechnology Institute will be the host site for the 2008 Texas Envirothon finals April 12-14. The EMGI will welcome 250 high school students from across the state for the event. The students will be evaluating the environment of the college campus to answer the questions relating to “Recreational Impacts on Natural Resources.”
Envirothon is a three-day academic, extracurricular environmental and natural resource education program and competition designed for high school students. Teams of five students work together to answer questions focusing on five areas of study: aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and a current environmental issue. In addition to the field experience, students also participate in an oral component focusing on a real-world environmental problem.
The University of Houston at Clear Lake will oversee the project, but in order to provide this event for high school students, volunteers will be necessary. The EMGI will need as many as 50 volunteers to help run tests, monitor stations, judge presentations and much more. Groups and individuals can contact Melanie Gamble, corporate and continuing education workforce specialist, at ext. 4269 to make arrangements to volunteer.
On April 12 and 13, experts in North Texas hydrology, soils, forestry and wildlife biology will familiarize the teams with our particular setting, using GPS and other technologies to describe the campus. Teams will work outside on one day, visiting five carefully chosen stations which demonstrate certain traits.
The actual competition will take place April 14 with the winner going on to attend the national Envirothon in Flagstaff, Ariz., this summer. Prizes include more than $25,000 in scholarships and excellent materials for the students and their schools.
