REFLECTIONS ON 2026 ILLINOIS ENVIROTHON
- ilaimproject
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
This April I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Illinois Envirothon competition hosted by the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts. This year’s Envirothon took place on April 29th and 30th at the 4H Memorial Campground in Monticello, IL.
For those who are not familiar with the Envirothon competition, “The Envirothon® is an environmental and natural resources conservation problem-solving, leadership experience and academic competition for secondary school (high school) students (grades 9-12 or ages 14-19) across the United States, Canada, China, and Singapore. Incorporating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) principles, hands-on learning, and outdoor field experiences, the Envirothon fosters student learning in the areas of AQUATIC ECOLOGY, FORESTRY, SOILS and LAND USE, WILDLIFE, and CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES” (envirothon.org).
To compete at the state level, teams must first participate in a county or land use council (LUC) Envirothon. The competition includes listening to a twenty-minute presentation on each of the five topics noted above, followed by a twenty-minute testing period for each topic. From this local level competition “each participating LUC sends one champion team to the Illinois Envirothon, for a total of sixteen teams” (illinoisenvirothon.org). Additionally, an FFA team can attend Illinois Envirothon for testing day only. The Illinois Envirothon competition is a fun, educational, and meaningful experience for both students and volunteers. This was my second year volunteering, and each year seems to be better than the last.
Day one of the competition was testing day, like the local competition, but this time students traveled to various stations around camp and listened to a notable speaker for each of the five topics. This year I was a team guide for Monticello (LUC6), and I helped bring them to each station. After the testing was completed for the day, the students had break time before dinner. During this time, students were walking the trails, playing basketball, fishing in the pond, and hanging out with other LUCs. After the break, teams, volunteers, and chaperons all gathered in the main dining hall. Each team got the opportunity to show off their custom LUC shirts and introduce their teams before we all had dinner together. After dinner, the next section of the Envirothon began.
Students voted on best LUC shirt, and a team spirit award before they learned their oral presentation prompt for the next day. The oral presentation for the second day followed the fifth presentation category the students were tested on during day one. This year’s prompt was about non-point source pollution. The students were to design a conservation plan for a particular watershed with certain monetary parameters and present their plan while explaining their conservation practice options, reasons for choosing each practice, and expected costs and outcomes of their plan. After they heard the prompt, students were given three hours preparation time after dinner where they brainstormed with their team and made their presentation. This year, the Envirothon went digital for the first time, so students made a virtual PowerPoint on a flash drive. They were also allowed to make notecards that they could use the day of their presentation. Following preparation time, students finished out the night with fun activities like a bonfire and ice cream sandwiches until lights out at 11pm
Day two began bright and early with a 7:30 am breakfast for everyone. After breakfast, the teams split up into their groups and were given less than an hour to prepare for the oral presentation portion. The initial presentation for each team was given in front of four judges who grade, time, and ask questions at the end of the presentation. After each team presented in front of their initial judges, the top three scores were selected, and the top teams gave a final presentation in front of a new group of judges. This group of judges picked the top presentation of the three and the winner gave their final presentation in front of everyone during lunch time. This year’s ranking of the 2026 IL Envirothon is as follows: first place Olney High School (Richland County), second place was Lane Tech (Cook County), and third place was Stewardson Strasburg (Shelby County). Since Olney High School was awarded overall high score of Envirothon, test scores and oral presentation included, they are invited to the National Envirothon competition in Mississippi this July.
As someone who never had the opportunity to experience competing in Envirothon, local or state, I truly can’t explain how special and important this unique occasion is for high school students. From my perspective as a two-year volunteer, Envirothon is a challenging, character-building, and collaborative event that not only allows students to compete against other LUCs, but also to have a fun time while learning about great conservation challenges. Each year I am more impressed by the new groups of students competing. As a conservation professional, it gives me such pride and a sense of ease at the next generation of conservationists – our land will be in good hands with them.
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