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Tantramar, New Brunswick, Canada – On July 28, the Massachusetts Envirothon team from Lexington, Massachusetts, was named the champion of the 2023 National Conservation Foundation (NCF)-Envirothon, an international environmental and natural resources education competition for high school students.
“I’d like to congratulate the Massachusetts Envirothon team and all the students for their hard work,” said NCF Executive Director Jeremy Peters. “Their dedication to environmental and natural resource issues have shown that the future of conservation is in good hands.”
Forty-nine teams from across the U.S., Canada, China, and Singapore traveled to this year’s competition, from July 23-28, hosted in partnership with Envirothon New Brunswick and Science East Science Center, at Mount Allison University in Tantramar, New Brunswick, Canada. Throughout the week-long competition, students demonstrated their knowledge of soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, and wildlife management through written tests and interactive stations featuring New Brunswick’s natural resources. The teams were also tested on and then prepared oral presentations on this year’s current issue, “Adapting to a Changing Climate.”
“Over the past week, we have come together from all corners of the world to immerse ourselves in the wonders of our natural environment and create memories that will forever hold a special place in our hearts,” said New Brunswick Host Committee Chair Becky Geneau. “The activities we organized were carefully designed to challenge students’ intellect, creativity, and teamwork skills. We witnessed their enthusiasm and dedication tackling each challenge with determination, always striving to find innovative solutions to complex environmental problems. Their passion for sustainability and environmental stewardship shone through every activity, in the true essence of the NCF-Envirothon spirit.”
The winning NCF-Envirothon teams are awarded scholarships and prizes, with the top three scoring teams receiving $30,000 in total, thanks to the support of Smithfield Foods, Inc. Scholarships for fourth through tenth place were awarded thanks to financial donations from NCF and last year’s host, Ohio Envirothon.
The top 10 teams from the competition are:
| Place | Team | City, State/Province |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | Lexington, MA |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | Delaware County, Pennsylvania |
| 3 | Ontario | Markham, Ontario |
| 4 | Florida | Port Orange, Volusia County, Florida |
| 5 | New Mexico | Truth or Consequences, New Mexico |
| 6 | North Carolina | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| 7 | California | Pacific Palisades, California |
| 8 | New York | Esopus, New York |
| 9 | Tennessee | Nashville, Tennessee |
| 10 | Maryland | Pylesville, Maryland |
The 2024 NCF-Envirothon annual international competition will be held in Geneva, New York, from July 28 – August 3, where students will be tested on the topic, “Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future.”
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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.
NCF-Envirothon is a hands-on environmental problem-solving competition that builds leadership skills for high school students, grades 9-12 (ages 14-19), in the United States, Canada and China. NCF-Envirothon’s mission is to educates students about the environment and conservation of natural resources through hands-on outdoor experiences, academic study and collaborative competitions. The program educates future stewards, promotes E-STEM (environment, science, technology, engineering and math) education, creates community awareness and fosters appreciation and respect for the natural world. Visit the NCF-Envirothon website to earn more.
