(MSC News)--The Nemaha Central High School Envirothon Team competed at the 24th Annual Kansas Envirothon on April 29th at YMCA’s CampWood near Elmdale. 

The Kansas Envirothon is an outdoor, environmental high school educational competition sponsored by local Conservation Districts. Students learn and are tested on Soils/Land Use, Forestry, Wildlife, Aquatic Ecology and a Current Issue. The current issue for the present year was in the area of Urban/Community Forestry.  Students rotated to one presentation in each area and then as a team during the testing portion of the competition.
 
Each team is to give an Oral Presentation on a Scenario that was given to each team by the Envirothon Committee.  This year’s scenario was based on the Emerald Ash Borer, the team had to come up with a comprehensive and strategic management plan.  This event was Nemaha Central’s first appearance at State Envirothon, and they ended up with the highest award in this category, first place, earning each participant a Gold Medal.
 
To qualify for state competition a team must first attend a Regional Envirothon.  A Regional competition was held at the Red Rock Guest Ranch on April 15, 2015.  Sabetha High School also brought two teams to the Regional Event, but because of scheduling conflicts they were not able to attend state.   Nemaha County Conservation District sponsored the event at Red Rock Guest Ranch and sponsored the teams to attend both the regional and state completion.
 
The winner of the state competition at Camp Wood was Rock Creek High School.  They received a $350 donation from the Kansas Envirothon to be donated to the advisors choice.   The group will now advance to the National Conservation Foundation’s Envirothon to be held in Springfield, Missouri hosted by Missouri State University on July 27 through August 2, 2015.  Typically there are 55 top winning state teams at this contest from the United States along with teams from Providences and Territories.
 
Tonja Kearns, Nemaha Central Advisor had this to say about her first Envirothon, “The first year competing in Envirothon was a great experience for us.  The kids had a great time and definitely learned a ton!  We look forward to next year after we have more time to study up on the different areas.  We are also excited to try to get out and recruit more to get involved!”
 
Team members: Isaac Ganstrom, Bryant Stallbaumer, Zach Buessing, Katia Cobian-Rivera, and Carmen Cobian-Rivera and alternate Austin Schmelzle The team is advised by Tonja Kearns, Science instructor along with Volunteer, Kathy Ganstrom.