Overview: Each spring, teams of SC high school students gather to compete for scholarships and the opportunity to represent the Palmetto State at the NCF-Envirothon competition. Envirothon teams are tested on their knowledge of five areas of environmental science (wildlife, forestry, soil science, aquatics, and a current topic) and their performance on an oral presentation. Teams consist of 3-5 students plus an alternate (optional) in grades 9-12. Each team must have the support of a team coach.
A coaches’ training session will be held on Saturday, February 1, and the 2025 SC Envirothon competition will be held on Friday, April 25. The 2025 current topic is “Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change.” More details to be announced.
Incentives: To incentivize Richland County participation in the competition, the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (RSWCD) will pay the team registration fee of $175 for the first three Richland County teams who submit their complete registration packets to the SC Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). Additionally, RSWCD will provide a stipend of $500 to the first three Richland County team coaches who submit their completed registration packets to SCDNR. (If there are multiple coaches per team, the $500 stipend will be evenly divided amongst that team’s coaches. If multiple teams share a coach or coaches, the coach or coaches are only eligible for a single $500 stipend.)
To be eligible for the stipend, coaches must:
- Inform the RSWCD of their intent to participate by emailing soilandwater@richlandcountysc.gov.
- Attend the Coaches’ Training on Saturday, February 1.
- Submit a complete registration packet to SCDNR, date TBA.
- Bring a team of 3-5 students plus an alternate (optional) in grades 9-12 to the competition on Friday, April 25 (more details will be available on the SC Envirothon website).
Training Trunk: RSWCD has an SC Envirothon Training Trunk available for teams to borrow for two weeks at a time to help them prepare for the competition. The Trunk is available on a first-come, first-served basis. To request the Trunk, contact soilandwater@richlandcountysc.gov.
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Conservation Districts are political subdivisions of state government under the local direction of five-member Boards of Commissioners. The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District promotes the wise use and care of natural resources, with a focus on soil and water, for long-term sustainability in a changing environment.
Contact
Richland Soil and Water Conservation District
2020 Hampton Street, Room 3063A
Columbia, SC 29204
Phone (803) 576-2084
Fax (803) 576-2088
E-mail soilandwater@richlandcountysc.gov
Facebook www.facebook.com/rswcd
Instagram www.instagram.com/richland_swcd/