UTAH 4-H EVENTS

UTAH ENVIROTHON


The Utah Envirothon is an environmental and natural resources competition that focuses on conservation problem-solving, leadership experience, and academics. The event is designed for secondary (high school) students (Grades 9-12 or ages 14-19). The competition incorporates STEM principles, hands-on learning, and outdoor field experiences. Students are challenged to develop critical thinking skills to create inventive solutions to the complex local and global environmental and natural resource issues facing our world today. With Envirothon, students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to educate others, inspire action in their local communities, and promote a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability.



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What is Utah Envirothon?

 

 

Utah Envirothon

Utah Envirothon is held annually in April. This event includes a “current issue presentation” and test stations in the areas that include: Forestry, Aquatic Ecology, Wildlife, Soils/Land Use, and a current issue.

This event is open to:

  • School and District Teams
  • 4-H Clubs
  • FFA Chapters
  • Boy Scout Troops
  • Girl Scout Troops
  • And any other youth serving organization


This event serves as the State of Utah qualifier for four national natural resources competitions:

  • International NCF-Envirothon – The team with the highest overall point total qualifies for this event to represent Utah. The competition rotates locations between the United States and Canada.

  • National FFA Environmental and Natural Resources Competition  – The FFA team with the highest overall point total will represent Utah at this competition. This competition takes place during the National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis.

  • National 4-H Forestry Invitational – The team with the highest point total from the Forestry Station will represent Utah at this competition. The team must be registered as a 4-H Team. This competition takes place at Jackson’s Mill at WVU in Weston, West Virginia.

  • National Wildlife Habitat Education Program Contest (WHEP) – The team with the highest point total from the Wildlife Station will represent Utah at this competition. The team must be registered as a 4-H or FFA team. This competition rotates locations throughout the United States.

Note: Travel expenses including airfare and team registration (lodging/food) are covered by our Utah Envirothon sponsors. 



Utah Envirothon Winners

2023

STEM activities for kids, groups, and families in Utah

1st Place: Sky View High School 
2nd Place: Logan High School
3rd Place: Granite Technical Institute







2023 Envirothon Winners
Sky View High School



2022


1st Place: South Summit High School
2nd Place: Logan High School
3rd Place: Salem Hills High School

 

2021


1st Place: Salem Hills High School
2nd Place: Davinci Academy
3rd Place: Environmental Science Club



2020


1st Place: Ridgline High School
2nd Place: Salem Hills High School
3rd Place: Davinci Academy



2019


1st Place: Logan High School



2018


1st Place: Snow Canyon High School



2017


1st Place: Sky View High School
2nd Place: Terra Academy



2016


1st Place: Wasatch High School
2nd Place: Salem Hills High School

2024 Event Information


Registration for the 2024 Utah Envirothon will open January 15.  



UTAH ENVIROTHON

Where: Beaver County
When: April 18—19

Current Issue: *will be released on March 1.

Registration Now Open


                    


4-H Advisors


All participants and team advisor must be enrolled as a club in your county through Zsuite.



FFA Advisors:


The Utah Envirothon serves as the Utah FFA Association State Environmental and Natural Resources CDE. The highest ranking FFA team will represent the Utah FFA Association in the National FFA Environmental and Natural Resources CDE at the National FFA Convention later that year. The team members competing at the National FFA Convention qualify for State Winner Travel Assistance funds, just as all other CDE winners.


Please be aware that the Envirothon allows 5 member teams and the National FFA CDE only allows a four member team. Our FFA state rules specify that “Only four members of the state winning team will be eligible to compete in the National CDE. The fifth member of the Envirothon team is not eligible to compete in future State Environmental and Natural Resources competitions.”


The Utah Envirothon is recognized as a FFA State Career Development Event but is not planned, supervised or administered by the Utah FFA Association.

About Us

Originating in 1979, the “Environmental Olympics”  first event was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts and included three conservation districts. By 1988, the idea caught on and the first national competition was held.

Today the program has grown to include approximately 55 states and Canadian provinces and is North American’s largest high school environmental competition.

Utah held its first annual Envirothon in 1998, thanks to the Utah Association of conservation Districts, which agreed to commit annual seed money and staff support. Each year the statewide competition is held in the spring.

Committee

Committee is being revised. Check back for updates.

Contact Us



Carrie Milligan
Program Coordinator, Utah Agriculture in the Classroom
School of Applied Sciences, Technology & Education
carrie.milligan@usu.edu
435.797.1833
www.utah.agclassroom.org


Dave Francis
Extension Youth Development Director
Utah 4-H STEM
dave.francis@usu.edu
435.760.4109
www.utah4-h.org


Sponsors & Donors

Utah Conservation Districts
Utah DEQ, Division of Water Quality
Smithfield Foods

National Events & Programs


International NCF Envirothon - www.envirothon.org

The NCF-Envirothon Competition is an annual event where winning teams from participating states and Canadian provinces compete for recognition and scholarships by demonstrating their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management. The competition is centered on four universal testing categories (i.e., soils/land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, and wildlife) and a current environmental issue.

The Envirothon program is an effective educational tool, capable of supplementing environmental education both inside and outside the classroom. Teams work collaboratively to develop their knowledge of ecology and natural resource management and to practice their environmental problem-solving skills in preparation for Envirothon competitions.

National 4-H Foresty Invitational - http://4hforestryinvitational.org/

The National 4-H Forestry Invitational is the national championship for 4-H forestry. The purpose of the invitational is to develop an appreciation for the importance of conserving forestland as a source of products, benefits, and services necessary for quality living. 4-H foresters learn citizenship and leadership skills as well as practical forest management skills through participation in the 4-H Forestry Invitational; consequently, participants will be better prepared to deal with environmental issues in the future.

*Note this event is only open to 4-H Teams.

Skills and knowledge events include:

  • Tree Measurement
  • Tree Identification
  • Forest Evaluation
  • Compass Orienteering
  • Topographic Map Use
  • Forest Insect and Disease Identification
  • Forestry Bowl
  • Forestry Written Exam
 
FFA Environmental and Natural Resources CDE - www.ffa.org

The Environmental and Natural Resources Career Development Event (CDE) provides competing students an opportunity to gain awareness and demonstrate knowledge in areas that affect our air, soil, and water. Competitors interpret data, use measuring devices in the field, and work through real-life scenarios involving environmental threats in pursuit of scoring the highest as a team and individual. Each team consisting of four FFA members competes in all types of weather conditions – just like professionals working in the environmental and natural resource industry – in pursuit of recognition for demonstrating skills relevant to GPS navigation, soil science, water management, and wildlife conservation. The competitors produce written statements and an oral presentation and must exhibit competency via writing and identification activities. Through these challenges, students develop interest and knowledge in sustainable management of our environment and will become the future stewards of resources critical to the future of agriculture.

*Note: This event is open to FFA members only

  • 4 Participants per team 
  • Information on Utah CDE - click here (https://www.utahffa.org/environmental-natural-resources)
 
Wildlife Habitat Education Program - https://www.whep.org/ 

WHEP is a hands-on environmental education program. WHEP provides participants an opportunity to test their wildlife knowledge in a friendly competition. – The team with the highest point total from the Wildlife Station will represent Utah at this competition, typically held the last full week of July. The national contest moves to a different state each year. 

* Note this event is only open to 4-H or FFA members

Through this competition, participants will:

  • Learn wildlife terms and concepts
  • Learn about wildlife habitat
  • Learn how to judge the quality of wildlife habitat
  • Learn about wildlife habitat management practices
  • Learn about wildlife damage management
Advisor Resources

National Envirothon Current Issue Resources

Wildlife

Aquatic Ecology

Soils

Forestry