ALLEGANY STATE PARK — Hinsdale Central School repeated as back-to-back Cattaraugus County Envirothon Competition champions at the event’s 32nd edition held at Camp Allegany in the Red House Area of Allegany State Park on Wednesday, April 30th.
Envirothon is a conservation-based skills and knowledge competition that Cattaraugus County Soil & Water Conservation District has hosted since 1992 – with a two-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Envirothon tests teams made up from area high schools within the county on five topics: aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, & a current issue topic that changes each year. This year’s current issue topic that was developed by the NYS Envirothon Competition Committee is Forest Stewardship in the Adirondack Park of which teams gave a presentation to panels of judges to discuss how they would address key issues outlined in the prompt’s narrative.
Seven teams from the following school districts participated in the competition: Allegany-Limestone, Ellicottville, Hinsdale, Olean, & Randolph, with Hinsdale placing first, Ellicottville placing second, and Olean placing third.
Hinsdale’s winning team, coached by science teacher Mr. Warren Schulze, featured a roster of returning champions: Amaya Russell, Kaleigh Buckles, Peyton Keller, Brett Bergstrom, & Robert Childs – all juniors with the exception of Keller, a senior. The Bobcats will move on to represent Cattaraugus County at the event’s New York State competition being held May 28 and 29 at SUNY Cortland where they will go against nearly 50 other top placing teams from across the state.
Envirothons across New York State rely solely on volunteers and donations to conduct local competitions. The NYS competition is desperately seeking volunteers to work the state event at SUNY Cortland. Please contact the District office by calling (716) 350-4018 to inquire about volunteering if interested.
Cattaraugus County Soil & Water Conservation District staff thanks all volunteers, donors, and sponsors who continue their dedication to supporting this great competition.
Envirothon coordinator and District Field Manager Tyler Paar said, “This competition has proven to be one of the most influential extracurricular activities that students can get involved in. Many of these competitors take an interest in these subjects and grow to become professionals in the conservation field and work for various local, state, and federal conservation agencies. I was a competitor under Mr. Dan Waugaman at Allegany-Limestone and competed in Brian Davis’s and Bob Shenk’s competitions before they retired. It’s been an honor to continue the legacy of a great program that they built together over 25 plus years with Cattaraugus County Soil & Water Conservation District.”
