WEST VALLEY, N.Y. - EM West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) is a sponsor of a local outdoor environmental competition for students on April 25 that emphasizes teamwork while testing knowledge in areas such as aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, and wildlife.
“Competitions like this help students to further their skills and become more environmentally aware adults," EM WVDP Director Bryan Bower said. “It’s important that we engage students early in their education, and get them interested in the sciences."
Ten teams, each with five area high school students, will participate in the Cattaraugus County Envirothon, which is organized by the Cattaraugus County Soil and Water Conservation District. They complete exams at five stations, where they identify various species of trees, wildlife, and fish on display; answer specific questions about habitat and other environmental-related issues; and give oral presentations.
The team with the highest score wins, and goes on to compete in the New York State Envirothon, where a champion team is chosen for the North American Envirothon.
“We are glad to be a part of this environmental learning competition," CHBWV President and General Manager Jeff Bradford said. “Friendly competition stimulates students’ interest and learning to become the future stewards of our environment."
Employees from CHBWV will volunteer at the event.
First held in 1979, the Envirothon is the largest conservation education program in North America and encourages student interest in natural resource conservation and environmental issues.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
