Bismarck High School “Water Buffalos,” coached by Valerie Smallbeck, sponsored by the Burleigh County Soil Conservation District, received top honors at the 22nd Annual North Dakota State Envirothon Competition. The event was held May 11-13, 2022 at Crystal Springs camp in North Dakota. Team members are Brooke Bondley, Jake Havelka, Marin Trayner, Ethan Thurn,Theresa Horning and alternate Adam Vasichek.

A total of 70 students from around the state were challenged on their knowledge and skills about natural resources and the environment. The scores received from a 10-minute oral presentation given before a panel of judges, along with the scores earned on the testing trails, determined the team who will represent North Dakota at the National Conservation Foundation Envirothon Competition, on the Oxford University campus in Miami, Ohio, July 24-30, 2022.

Second place honors went to Kenmare High School “Icy Rubber Duckies,” Envirothon Team, coached by Laura Mibeck, sponsored by the Ward County Soil Conservation District. Team members are Xylis Holter, Diontrea Anderson, Destinee Anderson, Elizabeth Moldenhauer, and Hailey France.

Third place honors went to the Center-Stanton “Hornets,” Envirothon Team, coached by Brooke Boeshans, and Jodi Hintz, sponsored by the Oliver County Soil Conservation District. Team members are Cameron Albers, Kaitlynn Albers, Katie Frank, Reanna Schmidt, and Bree Vosberg.

Bismarck High School Envirothon Team “Water Buffalos” took top honors on the Wildlife, Soils and Aquatics Trail test portion of the competition. Kenmare High School “Icy Rubber Duckies,” scored the highest on their Oral Presentation. Center-Stanton “Hornets,” scored the highest on the Prairie/Forestry Trail test.

The Envirothon is a problem-solving natural resource competition for high school students. Teams consisting of five members in grades 9-12, from a school, organization or club, study in the areas of prairie(forestry), soil, water, wildlife, and a current environmental issue. Team members demonstrate proven concepts of hands-on education combined with the excitement of effective educational tools, which will help our schools to nurture environmentally aware students and meet the immediate need to teach more environmental natural resource education.

The North Dakota Envirothon is a North Dakota non profit 501© 3 organization. We partner with local, state and federal agencies, organizations, private business and Soil Conservation Districts to educate high school students annually. For more information, contact Andrea Petersen, North Dakota Envirothon Coordinator, 720-384-5817.