WASHINGTON, D.C., and INDIANAPOLIS – North America’s largest environmental competition is now endorsed by the National FFA Organization. The Envirothon®, an international environmental and natural resource problem-solving competition, builds leadership experiences for high school students across the United States, Canada, and Asia. Each year, more than 200 local-level Envirothon competitions take place in the U.S., qualifying teams for the NCF-Envirothon® Annual Competition in July.

“We are proud to align with the National FFA Organization as the Envirothon is a complementary program for FFA youth looking to deepen their knowledge of natural resource and environmental subjects,” said Jennifer Brooks, NCF-Envirothon program manager at the National Conservation Foundation, the organization that supports the Envirothon.

The two organizations share similar missions to develop students’ potential through hands-on learning and real-world application of concepts. Envirothon participants learn directly from environmental and natural resource professionals and are introduced to potential career paths while engaging in activities like soil analysis, forest measurements, water quality assessments, and more.

“Experiential learning is a key component of FFA programs, and the Envirothon aligns with our organization’s approach to leadership development while introducing participants to environmental and conservation careers,” said Christine White, chief program officer at the National FFA Organization.

The Envirothon incorporates STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) principles, hands-on learning, and outdoor field experiences, encouraging students to expand their knowledge and explore environmental education and natural resource conservation through the study of aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife, and current environmental issues.

“Envirothon opened my eyes to areas like fire ecology, forestry and wildlife, and showed me just how important natural resources are to our world. That experience inspired me to pursue a career in environmental engineering and will continue to shape my studies,” shared Sam R., a 2025 Envirothon student alum.

Local Envirothon events take place throughout the year, with the annual global competition concluding the program year each July.

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The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,053,847 student members as part of 9,591 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook and Twitter.

The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) is a 501(c)3 organization that aims to identify and advance strategic programs and partnerships to deliver conservation solutions through locally led conservation and to develop the next generation of conservation leaders. NCF-Envirothon is a program of NCF. Visit the NCF website to learn more.