The Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon program is a natural resource competition for high school students. To learn more about the Envirothon program visit our program page or National Conservation Foundation- Envirothon page.
- The following links and resources are shared to assist Envirothon teams preparing for competition.
- Each area of study is divided into several different key topics, which vary from subject to subject. Underneath these key topics, you will find relevant learning objectives applicable to that topic for the level of testing expected at the Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon and NCF-Envirothon annual international competition-level testing.
**In Feb 2021, NCF-Envirothon adopted new Station Guidelines and Virginia will use these guidelines starting in the 2021-2022 program year.
Please Note:
In an effort to make the Learning Objectives as comprehensive as possible, the overall number of items for each area of study may be quite long! It is important to note, that not every learning objective listed will be used for every competition. These Learning Objectives serve as an overview of the types of knowledge and skills expected of students for the Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon program and NCF-Envirothon international level of competition.
Each resource supports the Envirothon learning objectives and information from these items are therefore subject to inclusion on the competition test. Current issue/Oral presentation problem resources and other station resources are updated on a regular basis.
Online Training Resources
- Click here to try a practice test using the ClassMarker platform.
- Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon YouTube Playlist
- Envirothon Coaches Handbook
Areas of Study-
2021-2022 Current Issue Topic– “Waste To Resources”
(the Current Issue is determined by the State/Province that is hosting the NCF-Envirothon Competition, Ohio is hosting the 2022 NCF-Envirothon Program, and choose the current issues topic)
Key Topic 1: Landfills and Hazardous Materials
1. Describe different types of landfills and explain how they are regulated.
2. Identify examples of hazardous materials and toxic substances and describe their proper disposal and handling.
- Resources from NCF-Envirothon
- Municipal Solid Waste– US EPA, 2021
- Basic Information about Landfills– US EPA 2020
- Learn the Basics of Hazardous Waste– US EPA, 2021
- Toxic Waste, Explained– Claire Wolters, National Geographic, 2019
- How to Regulate Our Waste-Full World– Jen Allan, International Institute of Sustainable Development. 2021
- Resources focusing on Virginia
- Virginia Solid & Hazardous Waste– VAhttps://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ)
- Virginia Waste Management Planning Regulations – VA DEQ
- Other resources
- Hazardous Waste Management terms – US EPA
Key Topic 2: Reuse, Recycling and Waste Diversion
1. Explain how the practices of reusing or recycling products conserves natural resources.
2. Describe how recycled materials can be repurposed and further diverted from landfills.
3. Explain how waste can be repurposed.
- Resources from NCF-Envirothon
- The U.S. Recycling System – US EPA, 2019
- What it Means to Go Green: Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle– Rebecca Mills, Utah State University Cooperative Extension, 2012
- Sustainable Materials Management: Non-Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Heirarchy-US EPA 2021
- Safe Hazardous Waste Recycling– US EPA, 2000
- Resources focusing on Virginia
- Virginia Recycling and Waste– VA DEQ
- Virginia Annual Recycling Report– VA DEQ
- Other Resources
- National Statistics on Waste & Recycling– US EPA
- Video lecture- Plastic Waste Management– Theory, Municipal Soild Waste Management Youtube
- Video lecture- Plastic Waste Management Examples (short), Municipal Soild Waste Management Youtube
- Video lecture- Financial Comparison of Collection and Transport Systems, Municipal Solid Waste Management Youtube
- Video lecture- Recycling Municipal Waste, Municipal Solid Waste Management Youtube
Key Topic 3: Composting and Food Waste
1. Describe composting processes and identify how composting supports waste diversion
efforts.
2. Explain how composting improves soil health and provide evidence for how composting
supports water conservation efforts.
3. Describe the problem of food waste and explain how it impacts the sustainability of the
global food supply.
- Resources from NCF-Envirothon
- Composting 101-Natural Resources Defense Council, 2020
- Farmers lead composting revolution to heal African soils– Fernando Naves Sousa, The Ecologist, 2014
- Composting Tips- USDA NRCS, 1998
- Food Waste in Amercian: Facts and Statistics– Rubicon, 2020
- Wasting Food Just Feeds Climate Change– United Nations, 2021
- Resources focusing on Virginia
- Composting and Compost – Virginia Cooperative Extension
- Compost: What is it and What’s it to you? -Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2018
- Composting and Compost – Virginia Cooperative Extension
Key Topic 4: Combustion with Energy Recovery (Waste-to-Energy)
1. Identify examples of closed-loop energy systems and facilities.
2. Compare methods of carbon sequestration and describe their potential as an energy
source.
- Resources from NCF-Envirothon
- Closing the loop: integrative systems management of waste in food, energy, and water systems- Davis et. al, 2016
- Carbon Sequestration- UC Davis, 2021
- Closing the loop: Waste to Energy Trends– Larry Burton, Temarry, 2021
- Waste-to-Energy: Where is it Needed the Most- United Nations, 2018
- G7 countries eye waste to energy incineration as part of plastic pollution solution Emily Chung, CBC News; 2018
- Resources focusing on Virginia
- Energy Resource Recovery, Fairfax County gov Public Works
- Landfill Gas Capture and Use– Virginia Places.org
- Other Resources
- Video lecture- Circular Economy and Solid Waste Management, Municipal Solid Waste Management Youtube
Key Topic 5: Human and Animal Waste Treatment
1. Evaluate the differences between municipal waste treatment and home sewage
treatment systems.
2. Compare and contrast the methods of waste treatment for human waste versus
animal waste.
3. Describe the impacts to ground and surface waters when fecal waste is not
effectively managed.
4. Identify innovative methods for managing fecal waste to lessen the impact to
natural resources.
- Resources from NCF-Envirothon
- Chapter 10: On-Site Wastewater Treatment– Centers for Disease Control, 1932/2009 revision
- Wastewater Treatment Principles and Regulations– Ohio State University Extension, 2016
- Urban China Turns Sewage Into Power– Aditi Sahay, International Water Association, 2017
- Animal Manure Management– USDA NRCS, 1995
- Resources focusing on Virginia
- Homeowner’s guide to a Spectic System – EPA, 2012
- Biosolids– VA DEQ, 2015
- Manure Compost– VA Cooperative Extension
- Other Resources
- Manure Management– PennState University
Key Topic 6: Brownfields and the Restoration of Degraded Lands
1. Define a brownfield and identify the impacts of brownfield materials on soil and water
quality.
2. Explain methods for removing brownfield toxins and the role of federal and state entities
in restoration.
3. Compare “green” approaches to re-using degraded lands and identify the benefits these
methods provide to local communities.
- Resources from NCF-Envirothon
- EPA’s Brownfields and Land Revitalization Program Impacts– US EPA, 2021
- Types of Pollution Found in Brownfields– Kirsten Campbell, Sciencing, 2017
- Reuse Possibilities for Brownfield Sites-US EPA, 2019
- Resources focusing on Virginia
- Other Resources
- Brownfields– US EPA
Other “Waste to Resource” Resources
- Video lecture- Planning a Waste Generation and Characterization Study, Municipal Solid Waste Management Youtube
- Video lecture- Waste and Climate Change, Municipal Solid Waste Management Youtube
Aquatics Resources– Updated October 2021
- Virginia’s Water Resources – A Tool For Teachers
- Dichotomous Key to Stream Macroinvertebrates
- Stream Insects and Crustaceans, Save Our Streams, Izaak Walton League
- ABCs of Hydrogeology
- Newly Added- Chesapeake Bay Facts- National Parks Service
- Newly Added- Virginia’s Major Watersheds- Department of Conservation & Recreation
Forestry Resources– Updated October 2021
- Common Native Trees of Virginia-VDOF This should serve as a complete list of ‘trees to know’ when studying for Virginia’s Forestry station.
- National 4-H Forestry Invitational Training Handbook
- Virginia 4-H Natural Resources & Environmental Education
- Forestry Best Management Practices for Water Quality, VDOF Field Guide
- Forestry Best Management Practices for Water Quality, VDOF Technical Guide
- VDOF Educational Links
- Riparian Forest Buffers, VDOF
- Forestry Handouts
- Our Forests Are Changing, Society of American Forestry
- Virginia State of the Forest Report 2020
- Virginia Tech Dendrology
Soils Resources– Updated October 2021
- Basic Soils Webinar Series, Virginia Cooperative Extension
- NRCS From the Surface Down
- Land Judging and Soil Evaluation, Virginia Tech
- Indicators of Hydric Soils in the U.S.
- Soil Texturing, NRCS
- NRCS Soils Website
- Soil Quality Indicators
- Cultural Practices to Maintain Soil Quality and Address Climate Change
- Soils Study Guide 2018
- Virginia Soil
Wildlife Resources– Updated October 2021
- Hunting and Trapping in Virginia, July 2021-June 2022– VADWR
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Education Main Page
- The North American Conservation Education Strategy-A Tool Kit for Achieving Excellence
- Virginia Wildlife
- Virginia DWR Bat Guide
- Backyard Conservation
- Invasive Species
- Management of Virginia Ponds for Fishing
- General Hunting and Fishing Regulations
- Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Regulations
- Dove, Woodcock, Snipe, etc. Virginia Regulations
- Virginia Freshwater Fishing Regulations
- Virginias Bowhite Quail
- Animal Tracks
- Virginia Deer Management Plan
- Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat, USFWS, Chesapeake Bay Office
- Wildlife Habitat Information, VDGIF
- Virginia Salamanders Video
- Field Guide to the Southern Piedmont
- Wildlife Glossary
Reach out to maura.christian@vaswcd.org with any questions.