Teams of 5 students must prepare themselves for this two-day outdoor competition held in April. Teams work to answer natural resource questions and develop solutions to environmental problems.

The New Mexico Envirothon consists of two components. At the outdoor competition, students conduct a series of in-field investigations followed by testing, which includes multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions in each of the five subject areas. Second, the oral presentation component presents students with a real-world resource problem. They must develop a management strategy to address the problem and present their solution to a panel of judges.

The 2008 current event topic is Recreation Impacts on Natural Resources.

The Envirothon emphasizes real-life problems. Students are challenged to apply their knowledge to solve problems that land managers face every day. Natural Resource Specialists from many agencies, organizations and businesses devise the Envirothon tests and staff the various test stations.

The overall goal of the New Mexico Envirothon is to develop knowledgeable, skilled and dedicated citizens who are willing to work toward achieving and maintaining a balance between the quality of life and the quality of the environment.

The Envirothon began in Pennsylvanian in 1979. Today the program has grown to include approximately 50 states and Canadian provinces and is North America’s largest high school environmental competition, now called the Canon Envirothon.

The 2008 New Mexico Envirothon will be held Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19, 2008. This year’s current environmental issue is recreation impacts on natural resources. Registration forms are due March 5. A schedule of events will be mailed to all registered teams shortly after registration. Location will be determined by February.

Teams consist of five members and may include an alternate. The cost to each team is $100.00. Every New Mexico team must be sponsored by a local soil and water conservation district. The sponsoring district may pay the team’s registration fee. A listing of New Mexico’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts are included in the sponsor section.

Team members should bring all-weather clothing (rain, sleet, snow or hail…) snacks and a drink, if desired. The New Mexico Envirothon will provide Friday lunch, Friday Supper, Saturday Breakfast, snacks and bottled water. A New Mexico Envirothon T-shirt will be provided to all participating team members and up to 2 advisors.

The New Mexico Envirothon is sponsored by the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts, New Mexico Chapter Soil and Water Conservation Society, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, New Mexico Forestry Division, New Mexico Game and Fish and many others. Final List can be found in the sponsor section.

Winners of the New Mexico Envirothon will win a trip to the Canon Envirothon, held July 28 – August 3, 2008 at the Northern Arizona University Campus located in Flagstaff, Arizona. The New Mexico Envirothon will pay transportation and lodging costs. The five-day event will bring together and challenge Envirothon teams from over 50 U.S states and Canadian provinces. Teams will compete for over $35,000 in Canon Envirothon Scholarships and other prizes.

Questions regarding the New Mexico Envirothon may be directed to the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts, the major sponsor of the statewide program, care of Amber Hughes at 575-706-2750 or 575-981-2479, or abchughes@wildblue.net.