What is the Envirothon?
The Envirothon is a high school competition held annually designed to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest the environment and natural resources. Students are tested on their knowledge of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology and current environmental issues. In addition, the Envirothon encourages cooperative decision-making and team building. While each student on a team is challenged individually to contribute his or her personal best, the score that counts at the end of the competition is the team score. A team consists of five students, all from the same high school. An adult advisor (or advisors) must accompany the team but is not permitted to assist the team during the competition.
High School students across the state compete each spring on the local level at one of the five Area Envirothon’s. Richland County is part of Area 2 which consists of teams from 17 northeastern Ohio counties. The top four teams from each Area Envirothon progress to the state contest in June held in a different part of the state each year. The 2026 Area 2 Envirothon will be held on April 29th at the Holden Arboretum 9550 Sperry Rd, Kirtland, OH 44094. The top-scoring Ohio Envirothon team advances to the National Conservation Foundation Envirothon. For more information go to envirothon.org.
In Ohio, Envirothon is sponsored by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Natural resource and environmental specialists from many agencies, organizations, colleges, universities, park districts and businesses devise the Envirothon questions and staff the various testing eco stations.
The Area 2 Envirothon is financed through monetary donations and donations of services and products from individuals, organizations, and businesses.
The Ohio Envirothon is financed by grants and donations from businesses and through contributions to the Don Riehl Memorial Envirothon Fund. Many local businesses provide donations, services, and products in support of Area and Ohio Envirothon’s.
2026 Envirothon
The 2026 Area 2 Envirothon will be held on April 29th at the Holden Arboretum 9550 Sperry Rd, Kirtland, OH 44094. The deadline to register a team is March 27, 2026. The Current Environmental Issue for 2026 is “Non-Point Source Pollution: It begins at home!”
Important Dates
March 27, 2026: Team registration and release forms are due to Ashtabula SWCD (Suzanne Westlake).
April 29, 2026: Area 2 Envirothon held at Holden Arboretum 9550 Sperry Rd, Kirtland, OH 44094
June 1-3, 2026: Ohio State Envirothon held at Franciscan University of Steubenville 1235 University Blvd., Steubenville, OH 43952
July 19-25, 2026: NCF Envirothon held at Mississippi State University Starkville, MS, 39762
How Can My School Participate?
A team consists of five students, all from the same high school. High Schools can register up to 3 teams to compete. An adult advisor(s) will complete the Team Registration Form but is not permitted to assist the team during the competition.
Area II Envirothon Registration Forms
Area II Envirothon Release Forms
Resources
- Free Envirothon Resource Tote for Loan through Mahoning SWCD! The tote is full of great resources such as Field Guide to Aquatic Macroinvertebrates, Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soil, Field Guide to Wildflowers, Sibley’s Field Guide to Birds, and much, much more.
Want to Get Involved?
It is our hope, as resource professionals, to push the minds of young people to realize the interrelationship of all living things and to look towards the future of resource management. We are always looking for Envirothon volunteers, mentors, and sponsors. If you or your business is interested in becoming involved, please contact us.
Sponsorship Information
Envirothon needs YOU!
It is our hope, as resource professionals, to push the minds of young people to realize the interrelationship of all living things and to look towards the future of resource management. We are always looking for Envirothon volunteers, mentors, and sponsors. If you or your business is interested in becoming involved, please contact us.
Contact
Kathi Vrable-Bryan, district administrator at Mahoning SWCD, currently sits on the board of the Ohio Envirothon Committee. For more information or questions regarding Envirothon, contact Kathi at (330) 740-7995.
