PORTLAND, Ore. – For the first time since 2019, the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) hosted the Oregon Envirothon earlier this month at The Oregon Garden in Silverton. More than 140 high school students, representing 13 schools from across the state, participated in the annual environmental sciences competition, which had been conducted virtually the previous two years.
The winners of the 2022 Oregon Envirothon were announced at a virtual awards ceremony on May 20, but with many pandemic-related school travel restrictions lifting, students were able to convene in person at The Oregon Garden on May 6 for the competition itself. Small teams of students completed a series of tests to demonstrate their skills in various natural resource disciplines, including aquatic, forest and wildlife ecology, as well as soils and land use. Students also gave oral presentations and were tested on their knowledge of this year’s current issue, “Waste to Resources,” which focused on how to responsibly manage waste produced by communities to ensure it doesn’t negatively affect the environment and natural resources.
A team of students calling themselves “The Rogue Pack” from Logos Public Charter School in Medford received the highest score, making them the outright winner of the 2022 Oregon Envirothon and earning them a spot at this year’s national Envirothon competition, planned for July 24-30 in Oxford, Ohio.
In addition to an overall winner, multiple teams were recognized with honors from the Oregon Future Natural Resource Leaders (FNRL) and Oregon FFA, including Career Development Event (CDE) awards. Team Piglets from Crater Renaissance Academy in Central Point was selected for the FNRL-Oregon Envirothon CDE award. Team FFA 1 from Sutherlin High School in Sutherlin received the Oregon FFA Environmental and Natural Resources CDE award.
The top two teams in the competition’s oral presentation category gave their Waste to Resources presentations in person May 6, in front of a judges panel made up of waste management and recycling experts. The judges selected the Sustainable Salamanders from Churchill High School in Eugene as the oral presentation winner.
OFRI is the sole sponsor and main organizer of Oregon Envirothon, in collaboration with a number of partners in natural resources and agricultural education. These include The Oregon Garden Foundation, the City of Salem, Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District, Marion Soil and Water Conservation District, Future Natural Resource Leaders, Oregon FFA, Bureau of Land Management, Nature Resources Conservation Services, Metro, Northwest Farm Credit Services, National Wildlife Federation and AmeriCorps.
The complete list of winners includes:
Overall:
• First Place: The Rogue Pack from Logos Public Charter School
• Second Place: Sustainable Salamanders from Churchill High School
• Third Place: Team FFA 1 from Sutherlin High School
• Fourth Place: Quiet Coyotes from Churchill High School
• Fifth Place: Team Piglets from Crater Renaissance Academy
Station Winners:
• Aquatic Ecology: Team FFA 2 from Sutherlin High School
• Soils and Land Use: The Rogue Pack from Logos Public Charter School
• Forest Ecology: Team FFA 1 from Sutherlin High School
• Current Issue: Team Muskrats from Crater Renaissance Academy
• Oral Presentation: Sustainable Salamanders from Churchill High School
• Wildlife Ecology: Cartwright Crawdads from Mohawk High School
The Future Natural Resources Leaders Career Development Event Awards:
• First Place: Team Piglets from Crater Renaissance Academy
• Second Place: Team FSF from Tillamook High School
• Third Place: Western Red Pirates from Neah-Kah-Nie High School
The FFA awards for Environmental Sciences Career Development Event:
• First Place: Team FFA 1 from Sutherlin High School
• Second Place: Team A SSC from Sabin-Schellenberg Professional Technical Center
• Third Place: Valor Blue from Valor Christian School International
• Fourth Place: Central Linn FFA from Central Linn High School
About the Oregon Forest Resources Institute:
The Oregon Legislature created the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) in 1991 to support and enhance Oregon’s forest products industry by advancing public understanding of forests, forest management and forest products, and encouraging sustainable forestry through landowner education. A 13-member board of directors governs OFRI. It is funded by a portion of the forest products harvest tax.