Portsmouth High School sent two teams of students to represent Scioto County at the Area 5 Envirothon, which was held on April 27 at Pike Lake State Park in Pike County.  Over 70 teams from 17 Southern and Central Ohio Counties competed in this year’s event.  The effort of Portsmouth High School at the event proved to be the best performance by a Scioto County school since Minford High School placed among the top ten in 1998.

An outdoor, academic event for high school students, the Envirothon tests students’ knowledge of Aquatics, Environmental Issues, Forestry, Soils, and Wildlife.  Annually, hundreds of students spend months preparing and then compete in the event in hope of advancing their teams to the Ohio Envirothon, which invites the top four scoring teams from each of Ohio’s five Envirothon regions to participate.

Logan High School from Hocking County placed first overall in the contest.  A second team from Logan High School, Vinton County FFA, and Athens High School will also advance to the State Envirothon to be held at the University of Findlay in Hancock County this June.

The Envirothon provides a fun, creative means for educating young people about nature and the environment.  “The kids are already talking about next year.” says Diana Marsh, Portsmouth High School Envirothon Advisor.  Students leave the competition having had a positive experience and through their preparation, have a broader understanding of natural areas and the world around them.

In Ohio, the Envirothon is sponsored by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (OFSWCD) in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Natural resource and environmental specialists from several agencies, organizations, colleges, universities, park districts and businesses devise the Envirothon questions and staff the various test stations.  Osco Industries and the Scioto Soil and Water Conservation District donated the registration fees to send both teams to the event.

For more information about the Envirothon or to learn how to get your high school registered for next year’s competition, contact Jeff Montavon, jeff.montavon@oh.nacdnet.net, at (740) 259-9231.