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.
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 is therefore subject to inclusion on the competition test. Current issue/Oral presentation problem resources and other station resources are updated on a regular basis.
The following links and resources are shared to assist Envirothon teams in studying and preparing for the 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 used these guidelines starting in the 2021-2022 program year.
Online Training Resources
- Aquatics Practice Questions
- Soils Practice Questions
- Wildlife Practice Questions
- Forestry Practice Questions
- Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon YouTube Playlist (Many training recordings can be found here)
- Envirothon Coaches Handbook
- 2024-2025 Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon Kickoff Event Recording
- Special Topic Training: The Monacan Indian Nation and Land Stewardship
- Forestry Training: Forests, Ecology, and Plant Biology with University of Delaware
- Soils Training: Digging Deeper into Soil Basics and Practical Applications
- Applying Envirothon Learning Objectives with Dominion Energy
Areas of Study-
Current Issue: Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change
Updated September 2024
The Current Issue is determined by the State/Province hosting the NCF-Envirothon Competition. Calgary, Alberta, Canada is hosting the 2025 NCF-Envirothon Program, and choose the topic of the current issue and the below key topics.
The link above shows all learning objectives for each of the key topics.
The Key Topics are listed below in a Table of Contents with links to each resource provided by NCF. To download the entire resource guide created by NCF and Alberta, click HERE.
For the Virginia competitions: Key Topics #1-5 will be used in testing. Key Topic #6 will only have one learning objective tested on. Students should still follow the learning objectives linked above for a better guide on what to study. All resources are listed for context. Virginia-specific resources on climate change, forests, and Indigenous tribes can be found below.
Key Topic #1: Climate Change Projections
- Basics of Climate Change
- Climate Change Indicators: Snow and Ice
- Overview of Climate Change in Canada
- Scenarios and Climate Models
- Linking Climate and Inequality
- Climate Change
Key Topic #2: Forest Health in a Changing Climate
- Forest health in a changing world: effects of globalization and climate change on forest insect and pathogen impacts
- How Does Wildfire Impact Wildlife and Forests
- Forest Pest Management
- Biotic Pathogens
- Forest Pests and Climate Change
- Shape-shifting forests: A tale of climate, wildfire, and surprising outcomes
- Drought
Key Topic #3: Inherent Rights of Indigenous Peoples to Land Stewardship
- Medicine Wheel for the Planet: A Journey Toward Personal and Ecological Healing
- Integrative Science and Two-Eyed Seeing: Enriching the Discussion Framework for Healthy Communities
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) for Indigenous Adolescents
- A Celebration of Traditional North American Knowledge: Indigenous Ingenuity
- VIDEO: What is Indigenous Land Management
- Indigenous Knowledges and Climate Change: Indigenous ways of knowing are shaping climate solutions
- Native Science: Natural Laws of Interdependence
- Indigenous conservation
Key Topic #4: Vulnerability Assessments and Adaptation Strategies
- Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments
- Adaptation
- Sensitivities and Adaptation of Ecosystems and Sectors
- Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment – Persist in place or shift in space? Evaluating the adaptive capacity of species to climate change
- Birds
- Assisted Migration
- Understanding Climate Change Impacts in Temperate Forests
- Forest ecosystems of temperate climatic regions: from ancient use to climate change
Key Topic #5: Legislation and Regulations
- Managing for diversity: How sustainable forest management conserves and protects Canada’s diverse forest values
- Forest Management and Disturbances
- Sustainability and Timber Harvest (AAC)
- Making the case for sustainable forest management certification
- The Paris Agreement
- Implementing Article 5 of the Paris Agreement and achieving climate neutrality through forests: From COFO24 to COP24
- Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
- Climate Change Adaptation Plan
- European forests: how climate change, land ownership, and forest-related policies influence future wood supply
Key Topic #6: The Boreal Forest **
- Alberta’s Natural Subregions Under a Changing Climate: Past, Present, and Future
- Canada’s Boreal Forest
- Boreal Forests and Climate Change – From Impacts to Adaptation
- Boreal Ecosystem Services
- Wetland Wonders
- Impact of climate change on wetland ecosystems
- Canada’s boreal wetlands are key to fighting climate change
Additional Information: Virginia
Aquatics Ecology Learning Objectives
Aquatics Study Guide – Posted September 2023
- Other Helpful Study Links:
- HYDROSPHERE
- ABCs of Hydrogeology– hydrologic cycle, aquifers, water table, groundwater, recharge
- Water Properties
- Physical Characteristics of the Chesapeake Bay– freshwater vs saltwater, estuaries
- Wetlands
- AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
- Structure of Aquatic Ecosystem
- Aquatic Ecology- species, communities, productivity, energy & food, trophic levels
- What Factors Determine the Carrying Capacity of an Ecosystem?
- Aquatic Symbiotic Relationships
- The Importance of Groundwater
- Lake Aging, Trophic Catagories, Eutrophication
- Stream Order Video – Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
- Watersheds and Drainage Basins
- Biogeochemical cycles- carbon, nitrogen
- Lake Stratification and Mixing
- Stream/River Geomorphology
- ORGANISMS
- Virginia’s Wildlife– fish, amphibians, and other aquatic life
- Stream Insects and Crustaceans, Save Our Streams, Izaak Walton League
- Major Characteristics of Fish Video– Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
- Freshwater Fish– major characteristics and behaviors
- Select Freshwater Fish Families (identification)
- Aquatic Insects
- Freshwater Mussels
- Anadromy vs Catadromy
- AQUATICS AND SOCIETY
- Chesapeake Bay Facts- National Parks Service
- Virginia’s Major Watersheds- Department of Conservation & Recreation
- Virginia’s Watersheds- DWR maps
- Why Is Aquatic Biodiversity Declining?
- How Can We Help Protect our Water Resources?– human & natural impacts on water quality
- key stakeholders, agencies, and organizations:
- Hypoxia & Anoxia – Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
- Eutrophication
- Best Management Practices
- Ocean Acidification
- FIELD SKILLS
- Watershed Deliniation
- Dichotomous Key to Stream Macroinvertebrates
- Macroinvertebrate ID: Save our Streams Video
- Biotic Index video
- Aquatic Invasive Species
- Interpreting Your Water Report
- Video- Manual Watershed Delineation Explained
- Water Budget & Components of the Hydrologic Cycle
- Hydrographs– National Weather Service
- links updated 8/2022
Forestry Learning Objectives
Forestry Study Guide – Posted February 2024
- 2022-2023 Test Point Distribution:
- 15% Forest Biology
- 20% Forest/Grassland Ecology
- 20% Plant Communities
- 30% Forest and Society
- 15% Forest Skills
- PLANT BIOLOGY
- Anatomy of a Tree
- Plant Anatomy and Morphology Video
- Reforestation Glossary – forest reproduction, life cycle terms
- Tree Adaptations
- Tree Physiology– Michigan University Extension, function of plant parts, tree growth, adaptations, Photosynthesis
- VDOF Educational Links – basic tree identification
- Angiosperm vs Gymnosperm
- Monocot vs Dicot
- Dendrochronology
- FOREST/GRASSLAND ECOLOGY
- PLANT COMMUNITIES
- Where Do Trees Grow?- click through to learn major types of forests, forest ecosystems, organisms, what shapes the forest? (fire), biodiversity in forests & more
- Forest Succession
- Erosion 101
- Nutrient Cycling
- Plants & the Water Cycle
- Landscape Ecology- Virginia Natural Landscape Assessment, DCR– habitat biodiversity, connectivity, conditions
- FOREST & SOCIETY
- Virginia’s Forest Resources – natural resources, economic benefits, ecosystem services
- In addition to Timber, Pulpwood, & Fuel Pellets- review the following “Non-Timber Forest Products“
- Our Forests Are Changing, Society of American Forestry
- Climate Impacts on Forests
- History of Forestry
- National Forest Laws & Regulations
- Virginia State and Private Forestry Fact Sheet 2022
- Forest Harvesting & Management Methods
- What Is a Silvicultural System?
- Riparian Forest Buffers, VDOF– example of BMP
- Forestry Best Management Practices for Water Quality, VDOF Technical Guide
- Urban Forests
- Best Management Practices for Water Quality– video
- Grazing & Rangelands
- Native American Contributions
- Virginia’s Forest Resources – natural resources, economic benefits, ecosystem services
- FIELD SKILLS
- Bark Types VDOF
- Virginia Tech Dendrology – clickable Dichotomous Key ID
- Forestry Handouts– Forest units of measurement, hardwood management, forest health
- Common Native Trees of Virginia-VDOF This should serve as a complete list of ‘trees to know’ when studying for Virginia’s Forestry station.
- Winter Tree ID in Virginia’s Piedmont video
- 15 Minutes in the Forest: Tree ID Beyond Basics Video– Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program
- Log Volume & Merchandizing video
- Common Insects and Diseases in Virginia’s Forests (teams should be knowledgeable about Emerald Ash Borer, Spongey Moth, Laurel Wilt, Oak Decline, Southern Pine Beetle, Spotted Lanternfly, & Thousand Cankers Disease)
- National 4-H Forestry Invitational Training Handbook
- Virginia 4-H Natural Resources & Environmental Education
- Forest Soils & Site Index
- Virginia State of the Forest Report 2020
- links updated 11/2022
Soils Learning Objectives
Soils Study Guide – Posted February 2024
- GEOLOGY
- Basic Soil Science
- Virginia Soils Webinar – The Fascinating things about soils in Virginia
- Virginia Soils Webinar – Geomorphology (landforms) of Virginia
- Virginia Soils Webinar – Basic geology and related parent materials
- Virginia Soils Webinar – Chemical weathering of soils and parent materials
- Three Types of Rocks
- Earth’s Layers
- Soils of Virginia– by region, influence on topography
- Types of Weathering
- SOIL STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
- NRCS- Soil Formation and Classification
- Types of Parent Material
- Soil Forming Process & layers
- The Twelve Orders of Soil Taxonomy
- Virginia Soils Webinar – Soil Structure and its Importance
- Soil Properties– physical & chemical properties, soil structure, pH
- Building Healthy Soils– improvements and changes to soil
- Soil & Soil Water Relationships– pores, drainage classifications, water capacity, & impacts
- Erosion 101
- Soil Compaction
- Prime Farmland designation
- Indicators of Hydric Soils in the U.S.
- SOIL ECOLOGY
- SOIL, LAND USE, & SOCIETY
- Environmental Justice History
- Cultural Practices to Maintain Soil Quality and Address Climate Change
- NRCS Virginia Soils
- Urban Soils
- Fossils of Virginia
- Development in Floodplains – bad for people and wildlife
- Climate Influences Soil
- Soil Quality – PennState Extension
- Honoring 86 Year of NRCS- a Brief History
- FIELD SKILLS
- The Clinometer to Measure Slope Info Sheet
- Virginia Soils Webinar – Soil colors and what they mean
- Using a Soil Texture Triangle – Purdue extension video
- Soil Quality Indicators
- NRCS From the Surface Down– soil surveys
- Land Judging and Soil Evaluation, Virginia Tech
- Best Management Practices
- Land Capability Class
- Drainage Class
- links updated 9/2023
Wildlife Learning Objectives
Wildlife Study Guide – Posted February 2024
- Wildlife Term Glossary – NCF Envirothon
- WILDLIFE BIOLOGY
- WILDLIFE ECOLOGY
- Wildlife Habitat
- Ecology Levels & Population – video (ecosystem organization, abiotic vs biotic factors, population growth)
- Symbiotic Relationships
- Common Wildlife Diseases
- Carrying Capacity
- Demographic Parameters – The Basics of Population Dynamics
- Food Webs & Trophic Levels– Video
- Toxics in the Food Web– bioaccumulation, biomagnification, especially in sea organisms
- Intro- Organization of Ecosystems
- Advanced- The Natural Communities of Virginia; Classification of Ecological Groups & Community Types DCR
- Ecological Niches– Virginiaplaces.org
- Habitat Characteristics Important to Wildlife– succession, structure, special habitat features
- Impact of fragmentation, edge effect,..
- Major Migratory Flyways
- Pollinators
- WILDLIFE, CONSERVATION, & SOCIETY
- Migratory Bird Program
- Virginia Endangered & Threatened Species List
- Hunting and Trapping in Virginia, July 2021-June 2022– VADWR
- Managing Fish Populations– harvesting & record keeping
- General Hunting and Fishing Regulations
- Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Regulations
- Virginia Game Regulations
- Virginia Freshwater Fishing Regulations
- Conservation vs. Preservation and the National Park Service
- America’s Public Lands Explained
- Conservation Technology
- Conservation Hall of Fame– historical figures
- FIELD SKILLS
- Virginia Mammals– Virginia Master Naturalist Training
- DWR Exploration of Common Virginia Mammals video
- Wildlife ID PDF– 2012 training
- Animal Tracks
- How to Read an Animal Skull
- Skull Science
- Common Wildlife Skulls in Virginia video
- Invasive Species
- Developing a Wildlife Management Plan
- Animal Sampling Techniques
- Frog ID quiz
- links updated 9/2023
Reach out to byron.minson@vaswcd.org with any questions.