A team of students from Crestwood High School took first place at the 44th annual Luzerne County Envirothon held in April at Talen Energy’s Susquehanna Riverlands near Berwick.
Nearly 135 students representing 26 teams from five different high schools competed in the event with Crestwood’s Team C, the overall winner with a total score of 405 points. Placing second and third were Nanticoke’s Team A and MMI’s Team A, respectively.
Crestwood Team C will go on to compete at the Pennsylvania State Envirothon’s statewide competition at Camp Mt. Luther in Mifflinburg on May 24.
The Envirothon is an environmental competition for students in grades 9 through 12 that tests their knowledge of Aquatics, Forestry, Wildlife, Soils, and an annual Current Issue Topic – which is “Adapting to a Changing Climate” this year. Each station is proctored by personnel from the Luzerne Conservation District or partnering state agencies, including the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, and the Game Commission.
The Luzerne Conservation District coordinates the competition and invites every high school in the county to participate. This year the following high schools responded to the challenge and put their skills to the test: Crestwood, Greater Nanticoke Area, MMI Preparatory School, Northwest Area and Wyoming Seminary.
Staff members from the conservation district and DEP’s Northeast Regional Office helped at the Envirothon by monitoring teams and testing stations, assisting with the scoring, and distributing food and refreshments. Talen Energy was very generous in allowing the use of their well-maintained and spacious grounds. Additionally, The Lands at Hillside Farms in Shavertown donated milk for the students, teachers and workers.
