Search Results for: envirothon

Envirothon

 

Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon Program

 

What is the Envirothon?

The Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon is a team-based natural resources competition for high school students.  Students who participate learn stewardship and management concepts and work to solve real-world environmental problems.  The program is field-oriented, community-based, and gives students an opportunity to work with natural resource professionals.  Click Here for a video overview of the Dominion Energy Envirothon competition!

Sign up for the Envirothon Newsletter!

Who makes up a team and what do they do?

Students work in teams of five.  Throughout the school year students prepare to compete at the local level, qualify to then compete at the area level and the top three teams from the six Soil & Water Conservation District areas in the state compete to be the State Winner.  These teams of high school students are tested on their knowledge of natural resources-soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics and a current environmental issue.  Students visit five “in-the-field” test stations where written and hands-on problem solving is required along with an oral presentation formulating a strategy to address a specific environmental issue they’ve been presented with.  The event is competitive but education is the bottom line.

Teams can be created through school clubs, classes, home school groups, 4-H groups, scout troops, local nature centers etc.  The only requirement is that the team has a minimum of five students (who are in 9th-12th grade) and one adult advisor/chaperone.

Additional Resources & Information:

Want to get involved?

Reach out to your local Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) to learn more, or email byron.minson@vaswcd.org to get connected to your local SWCD. Teams will need to get in touch with their local SWCD by the winter in order to be included in the local and/or regional competitions that occur in the spring. Check out https://vaswcd.org/current-competition/ to see the upcoming training and/or competition in your area. The top three teams from each of Virginia’s six regions will advance on to the State Competition in mid/late May each spring.

Virginia’s Envirothon program is also supported through the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund. Proceeds from the sale of the Bay license plates help citizens keep the bay healthy by restoring wetlands, planting buffers around waterways, promoting marine life restoration, decreasing pollution and providing educational programs like Envirothon.  To purchase a Bay license plate visit: http://www.dmv.state.va.us/vehicles/#splates/info.asp?idnm=CB 

Other Opportunities:

Virginia Board of Education’s Seal for Excellence in Science and the Environment

(available only to students who entered ninth grade in 2018-2019 or thereafter)
Information about the Diploma Seal- Science and the Environment, which Envirothon students could earn, can be found here

Envirothon Study Resources

The Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon program is a natural resource competition for high school students. To learn more about the Envirothon program visit our program page or National Conservation Foundation- Envirothon page. 

Please Note:
In an effort to make the Learning Objectives as comprehensive as possible, the overall number of items for each area of study may be quite long! It is important to note that not every learning objective listed will be used for every competition. These Learning Objectives provide an overview of the types of knowledge and skills expected of students in the Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon program and the NCF-Envirothon international level of competition.

Each resource supports the Envirothon learning objectives, and information from these items is therefore subject to inclusion on the competition test.  Current issue/Oral presentation problem resources and other station resources are updated regularly.   

The following links and resources are shared to assist Envirothon teams in studying and preparing for the competition. Each area of study is divided into several different key topics, which vary from subject to subject. Underneath these key topics, you will find relevant learning objectives applicable to that topic for the level of testing expected at the Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon and NCF-Envirothon annual international competition-level testing.

Online Training Resources 

Areas of Study-

Current Issue: Non-Point Source Pollution: It begins at home!

Updated September 2025

The Current Issue is determined by the State/Province hosting the NCF-Envirothon Competition. Starkville, Mississippi is hosting the 2026 NCF-Envirothon Program, and choose the topic of the current issue and the below key topics.

The link above shows all learning objectives for each of the key topics.

The Key Topics are listed below in a Table of Contents with links to each resource provided by NCF. To download the entire resource guide created by NCF and Mississippi, click HERE.

Key Topic #1: Non-Point Source Pollution Status

  • Define non-point source (NPS) pollution and differentiate it from point source pollution using real-world examples from urban and rural settings.
  • Explain changes in watershed ecology that influence NPS pollution (Water cycle, nutrient cycles, carbon cycles, river continuum concept).
  • Identify major types, sources and pathways of NPS pollution in surface water systems, including stormwater runoff, agricultural fields, and impervious surfaces.
  • Describe the impacts of NPS pollution on water quality and designated water uses (e.g., recreation, fisheries, drinking water).

Key Topic #2: NPS is a Growing World and Your Role in It

  • Explain how population growth, urban expansion, and agricultural intensification contribute to increased non-point source pollution globally and locally.
  • Compare the effects of land use types (e.g., urban, suburban, agricultural) on runoff volume and pollutant loading.
  • Identify common products or practices in daily life that contribute to non-point source pollution through indirect pathways (e.g., fertilizers, car washing, pet waste).
  • Illustrate the concept of a personal environmental footprint as it relates to NPS pollution, using tools such as footprint calculators.

Key Topic #3: The Role of the Individual/Community in NPS Issues and Solutions

  • Describe the role that individuals, families, and local communities can play in reducing NPS pollution through behavior change and local initiatives.
  • Identify examples of community-based solutions to NPS pollution (e.g., storm drain marking campaigns, rain garden installations, stream cleanups).
  • Compare the effectiveness of individual vs. collective actions in mitigating NPS pollution at the watershed scale.
  • Demonstrate how to design or participate in a local outreach or monitoring project that addresses NPS pollution, such as conducting a stormwater audit or organizing a pollution prevention campaign.
  • Interpret the benefits and limitations of volunteerism, citizen science, and public- private partnerships in addressing NPS issues.

Key Topic #4: Strategies to Evaluate NPS Sources, Issues, and Solutions

  • Identify tools and techniques used to assess non-point source pollution, including watershed mapping, stormwater flow tracing, and visual assessment methods.
  • Explain how monitoring data (e.g., water quality indicators such as turbidity, E. coli, nutrients) can be used to evaluate the presence and severity of NPS pollution.
  • Describe the challenges in monitoring, quantifying, and managing NPS pollution compared to point source pollution.
  • Apply simple field protocols to evaluate land use and physical features (e.g., slope, impervious cover, vegetative buffers) that influence runoff and pollutant transport.
  • Interpret basic maps, aerial imagery, or field data to locate potential sources of NPS pollution in a given watershed.
  • Recommend appropriate solutions based on identified issues in a mock or real world NPS pollution scenario, drawing on field evidence or data interpretation.

Key Topic #5: Legislation, Regulations, and Voluntary Measures

  • Summarize major U.S. policies and programs that address non-point source pollution, including the Clean Water Act (especially Sections 303 and 319) and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs).
  • Differentiate between regulatory and voluntary approaches to controlling NPS pollution and identify examples of each.
  • Describe how federal and state agencies support local communities in managing NPS pollution through funding, education, and technical assistance.
  • Simulate a decision-making process where students must select appropriate policy or program tools to manage a fictional watershed’s NPS challenges.

Key Topic #6: Your Best Management Practices for NPS

  • Identify common BMPs used to reduce NPS pollution in urban, suburban, and agricultural environments (e.g., rain gardens, cover crops, buffer strips, pervious pavement).
  • Explain how selected BMPs reduce pollutant loads or improve stormwater infiltration, using diagrams or real-world examples.
  • Compare the costs, benefits, and feasibility of different BMPs in various land use contexts (e.g., a schoolyard vs. a farm vs. a residential street).
  • Demonstrate how to plan or assess a BMP using a field checklist, photo documentation, or a site sketch (e.g., rain garden layout or runoff path).
  • Recommend appropriate BMPs for a hypothetical site based on land use, soil conditions, and observed pollution risks.

Aquatics Ecology Learning Objectives

Aquatics Study Guide – Posted September 2023

Forestry Learning Objectives

Forestry Study Guide – Posted February 2024

Soils Learning Objectives

Soils Study Guide – Posted February 2024

Wildlife Learning Objectives

Wildlife Study Guide – Posted February 2024

Reach out to byron.minson@vaswcd.org with any questions.

Envirothon History

The Virginia Envirothon, a recognized outreach program supported by the state legislature in code, is a natural resources competition through which high school students around the Commonwealth compete by demonstrating their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management. In preparation for the event, teams of students spend the year studying soils, forestry, aquatics, wildlife, and a current specific environmental issue. Students also apply their knowledge of these topics and problem-solving skills through an oral presentation in which they solve real-life environmental problems.

The Virginia Envirothon Academic Competition was established in 1995.  Since then, Envirothon has been awarded the Environmental Stewardship Award by the Petroleum Council. The Commonwealth of Virginia has repeatedly placed in the top 15 overall teams at the International Envirothon competition.  The 2006 Virginia team placed first at the national competition and placed sixth in 2007.  In 2011 our students took home a 7th place finish and in 2012 the Virginia team placed 8th overall and 1st place in the aquatics topic. In 2018, our Virginia team placed third overall with first-place scores in wildlife and oral presentation. In 2019, our Virginia team (Jamestown High School) placed first overall and first place in Forestry.   Each member took home a $3,000 scholarship. 

Envirothon has undoubtedly increased public awareness and personal improvement on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay and all of our local watersheds. Students also gain an understanding of our food sources and the need for better protection and conservation of our environment.

By incorporating the Envirothon curriculum into classrooms, Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Virginia and across the nation are taking a notable lead in responding to the public school system’s need for a strong, hands-on approach to environmental education.

Beginning with the 2011-2012 Envirothon program, Dominion Energy became the flagship supporter of the program. (Press Release) Fueled by Dominion Resource’s generous sponsorship, the Envirothon program will undoubtedly continue to grow. Cindy Balderson, Philanthropy Manager for Dominion Power and The Dominion Foundation shared the excitement of the new partnership stating,   “We believe the students’ participation in Envirothon activities will prepare them for college and beyond, as they study environmental issues and become advocates and stewards of our natural resources.

A COMPLETE HISTORY OF ENVIROTHON WINNERS AT THE STATE LEVEL:

2025 VA Competition- University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA

  • 1st Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD*
  • 2nd Place- Louisa County 4-H, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • 3rd Place- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Northern Virginia SWCD
  • Jamestown High School represented VA at the NCF Competition in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and placed 10th overall.

2024 VA Competition- Radford University, Radford, VA

  • 1st Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD*
  • 2nd Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • 3rd Place- Eastern View High School, Culpeper SWCD
  • Jamestown High School represented VA at the NCF Competition in Geneva, New York and placed 16th overall, and 1st place in Forestry.

2023 VA Competition- Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA

  • 1st Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD*
  • 2nd Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • 3rd Place- Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
  • Jamestown High School represented VA at the NCF Competition in New Brunswick, Canada and placed 13th overall.

2022 VA Competition- Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA

  • 1st Place- Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
  • 2nd Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD*
  • 3rd Place- Albemarle High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • *Louisa County High School represented VA at the NCF Competition at Miami University, Oxford Ohio and placed 12th overall

2021 VA Competition- virtual due to COVID-19 Pandemic

  • 1st Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD*
  • 2nd Place- Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 3rd Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
  • *Louisa County High School placed 14th overall at the NCF virtual Envirothon Competition.

2019 VA Competition- University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA

  • 1st Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD*
  • 2nd Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • 3rd Place- Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • *Jamestown High School placed 1st overall, and 1st in Forestry at the NCF-Envirothon Competition in Raleigh, North Carolina.

2018 VA Competition- Ferrum College, Ferrum Virginia

  • 1st Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD*
  • 2nd Place- Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 3rd Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • *Jamestown High School placed 3rd overall, 1st Place for Oral Presentation, and Tied for 1st in Wildlife at the NCF-Envirothon Competition

2017 VA Competition- Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA

  • 1st Place- Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
  • 3rd Place– Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, Northern Virginia SWCD

2016 VA Competition-Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA

  • 1st Place-Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place-Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
  • 3rd Place- Eastern View High School, Culpeper SWCD

2015 VA Competition-Longwood University, Farmville, VA

  • 1st Place-Hidden Pond Nature Center, Northern Virginia SWCD
  • 2nd Place-Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
  • 3rd Place-Eastern View High School, Culpeper SWCD

2014 VA Competition-Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, VA

  • 1st Place-Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place-Eastern View High School, Culpeper SWCD
  • 3rd Place-Eastern Mennonite High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD

2013 VA Competition-Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA

  • 1st Place- Hidden Pond Nature Center, Northern VA SWCD
  • 2nd Place- Albemarle High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • 3rd Place- Northern Neck 4-H, Northern Neck SWCD

2012 VA COMPETITION – James Madison University, Harrisonburg VA

  • 1st Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Hidden Pond Nature Center, Northern VA SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Eastern View High School, Culpeper SWCD
  • *Fort Defiance High Places 8th at Canon National Competition and 1st in Aquatics Ecology Station

2011 VA COMPETITION – Camp Hanover, Hanover, VA

  • 1st Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Hidden Pond Nature Center, Northern VA SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Northern Neck 4H, Northern Neck SWCD
  • *Fort Defiance High School Places 7th at Canon National Competition

2010 VA COMPETITION – Skelton 4H, Wirtz, VA

  • 1st Place – Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 3rd Place –Halifax High School, Halifax SWCD

2009 VA COMPETITION – Airfield 4H

  • 1st Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Albemarle High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD

2007 VA COMPETITION

  • 1st Place – Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 3rd Place – ALBEMARLE High School, THOMAS JEFFERSON SWCD
  • *Harrisonburg High School places 6th at Canon Envirothon

2006 VA COMPETITION

  • 1st Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Nandua High School, Eastern Shore SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Halifax High School, Halifax SWCD
  • *Fort Defiance High School wins and places 1st at Canon Envirothon

2005 – Fort Defiance High School Places Second at Canon Envirothon

2004 – VA COMPETITION – James Madison University, Harrisonburg VA

  • 1st Place – Augusta County 4H, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Rockbridge High School, Natural Bridge SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Powhatan High School, Monacan SWCD
  • *Augusta County 4H Homeschool places 2nd at Canon North American Envirothon Competition…..

2003 – VA COMPETITION – Airfield 4-H Education Center, Wakefield VA

  • 1st Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Central High School, Lord Fairfax SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Halifax High School, Halifax SWCD

2002 – Virginia State Arboretum, Winchester VA

  • 1st Place – Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Osbourne Park High School, Prince William SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Central High School, Lord Fairfax SWCD

2001- Smith Mt. Lake 4H Educational Center , Wirtz , VA

  • 1st Place – Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Amelia County High School, Piedmont SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Franklin County High School, Blue Ridge SWCD

2000 – Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center, Appomattox, VA

  • 1st place – Albemarle Environmental Club, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • 2nd place – Central High School FFA, Shenandoah County
  • 3rd place – Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD

1999 – Seashore/First Landing State Park, Virginia Beach

  • 1st – Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
  • 2nd – Albemarle/Monticello High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • 3rd – New Kent High School, Colonial SWCD


1998 – Northern Virginia 4-H Center, Front Royal

  • 1st – Thomas Jefferson SWCD – Albemarle High School
  • 2nd – Shenandoah Valley SWCD – Harrisonburg High School
  • 3rd – Piedmont SWCD – Fuqua School

1997 – Camp Blue Ridge, Montebello

  • 1st – Shenandoah Valley SWCD – Turner Ashby High School
  • 2nd – Piedmont SWCD – Fuqua School
  • 3rd – Daniel Boone SWCD – Thomas Walker High School 

1996 – Hungry Mother State Park, Marion

  • 1st – Eastern Shore SWCD – Nandua High School
  • 2nd – Daniel Boone SWCD – Thomas Walker High School
  • 3rd – Shenandoah Valley SWCD – Turner Ashby High School


1995 – Douthat State Park

  • 1st – Eastern Shore SWCD – Nandua High School
  • 2nd – Daniel Boone SWCD – Thomas Walker High School
  • 3rd – Appomattox River SWCD – Dinwiddie High School
Next Page »