It was a fantastic day here at Evergreen Outdoor Education’s site! On April 28th, we had the pleasure of hosting the 2025 Southwest Region Envirothon, and what an inspiring event it was. For those unfamiliar, Envirothon is a really cool competition for high school students where they get to put their knowledge of the environment and natural resources to the test.
We had teams of students diving into hands-on problems across five key areas: aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and this year’s important natural resource issue. It was exciting to see their enthusiasm and teamwork as they tackled each challenge.
Maine hosts four of these regional competitions, and the top teams from each go on to compete at the state level. From there, the Maine winner gets an incredible opportunity to participate in the international Envirothon, where college scholarships are even up for grabs! It’s a fantastic pathway for these young people to not only learn but also gain recognition for their dedication to environmental science.
Throughout the day, the students had the chance to connect with and learn directly from professionals in the field – state soil scientists, biologists, foresters, and more. These interactions are invaluable, offering real-world insights and potential career paths.
Hosting the Envirothon reinforces why we do what we do here at Evergreen. Providing opportunities for young people to engage with nature and learn about conservation is so crucial. These students are the future stewards of our planet, and fostering their understanding and passion for the environment is an investment in a healthier tomorrow. We believe that hands-on learning experiences like the Envirothon play a vital role in inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders.
We were thrilled to be a part of this important event and look forward to hosting more like it in the future!