The Virginia Envirothon, a recognized outreach program supported by the state legislature in code, is a natural resources competition through which high school students around the Commonwealth compete by demonstrating their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management. In preparation for the event, teams of students spend the year studying soils, forestry, aquatics, wildlife, and a current specific environmental issue. Students also apply their knowledge of these topics and problem-solving skills through an oral presentation in which they solve real-life environmental problems.
The Virginia Envirothon Academic Competition was established in 1995. Since then, Envirothon has been awarded the Environmental Stewardship Award by the Petroleum Council. The Commonwealth of Virginia has repeatedly placed in the top 15 overall teams at the International Envirothon competition. The 2006 Virginia team placed first at t
he national competition and placed sixth in 2007. In 2011 our students took home a 7th place finish and in 2012 the Virginia team placed 8th overall and 1st place in the aquatics topic. In 2018, our Virginia team placed third overall with first-place scores in wildlife and oral presentation. In 2019, our Virginia team (Jamestown High School) placed first overall and first place in Forestry. Each member took home a $3,000 scholarship.
Envirothon has undoubtedly increased public awareness and personal improvement on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay and all of our local watersheds. Students also gain an understanding of our food sources and the need for better protection and conservation of our environment.
By incorporating the Envirothon curriculum into classrooms, Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Virginia and across the nation are taking a notable lead in responding to the public school system’s need for a strong, hands-on approach to environmental education.
Beginning with the 2011-2012 Envirothon program, Dominion Energy became the flagship supporter of the program. (Press Release) Fueled by Dominion Resource’s generous sponsorship, the Envirothon program will undoubtedly continue to grow. Cindy Balderson, Philanthropy Manager for Dominion Power and The Dominion Foundation shared the excitement of the new partnership stating, “We believe the students’ participation in Envirothon activities will prepare them for college and beyond, as they study environmental issues and become advocates and stewards of our natural resources.
A COMPLETE HISTORY OF ENVIROTHON WINNERS AT THE STATE LEVEL:
2024 VA Competition- Radford University, Radford, VA
- 1st Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD*
- 2nd Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
- 3rd Place- Eastern View High School, Culpeper SWCD
- Jamestown High School represented VA at the NCF Competition in Geneva, New York and placed 16th overall, and 1st place in Forestry.
2023 VA Competition- Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA
- 1st Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD*
- 2nd Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
- 3rd Place- Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
- Jamestown High School represented VA at the NCF Competition in New Brunswick, Canada and placed 13th overall.
2022 VA Competition- Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA
- 1st Place- Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
- 2nd Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD*
- 3rd Place- Albemarle High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
- *Louisa County High School represented VA at the NCF Competition at Miami University, Oxford Ohio and placed 12th overall
2021 VA Competition- virtual due to COVID-19 Pandemic
- 1st Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD*
- 2nd Place- Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
- 3rd Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
- *Louisa County High School placed 14th overall at the NCF virtual Envirothon Competition.
2019 VA Competition- Ferrum College, Ferrum Virginia
- 1st Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD*
- 2nd Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
- 3rd Place- Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
- *Jamestown High School placed 1st overall, and 1st in Forestry at the NCF-Envirothon Competition in Raleigh, North Carolina.
2018 VA Competition- Ferrum College, Ferrum Virginia
- 1st Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD*
- 2nd Place- Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
- 3rd Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
- *Jamestown High School placed 3rd overall, 1st Place for Oral Presentation, and Tied for 1st in Wildlife at the NCF-Envirothon Competition
2017 VA Competition- Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA
- 1st Place- Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
- 2nd Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
- 3rd Place– Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, Northern Virginia SWCD
2016 VA Competition-Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA
- 1st Place-Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
- 2nd Place-Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
- 3rd Place- Eastern View High School, Culpeper SWCD
2015 VA Competition-Longwood University, Farmville, VA
- 1st Place-Hidden Pond Nature Center, Northern Virginia SWCD
- 2nd Place-Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
- 3rd Place-Eastern View High School, Culpeper SWCD
2014 VA Competition-Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, VA
- 1st Place-Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
- 2nd Place-Eastern View High School, Culpeper SWCD
- 3rd Place-Eastern Mennonite High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
2013 VA Competition-Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA
- 1st Place- Hidden Pond Nature Center, Northern VA SWCD
- 2nd Place- Albemarle High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
- 3rd Place- Northern Neck 4-H, Northern Neck SWCD
2012 VA COMPETITION – James Madison University, Harrisonburg VA
- 1st Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
- 2nd Place – Hidden Pond Nature Center, Northern VA SWCD
- 3rd Place – Eastern View High School, Culpeper SWCD
- *Fort Defiance High Places 8th at Canon National Competition and 1st in Aquatics Ecology Station
2011 VA COMPETITION – Camp Hanover, Hanover, VA
- 1st Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
- 2nd Place – Hidden Pond Nature Center, Northern VA SWCD
- 3rd Place – Northern Neck 4H, Northern Neck SWCD
- *Fort Defiance High School Places 7th at Canon National Competition
2010 VA COMPETITION – Skelton 4H, Wirtz, VA
- 1st Place – Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
- 2nd Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
- 3rd Place –Halifax High School, Halifax SWCD
2009 VA COMPETITION – Airfield 4H
- 1st Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
- 2nd Place – Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
- 3rd Place – Albemarle High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
2007 VA COMPETITION
- 1st Place – Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
- 2nd Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
- 3rd Place – ALBEMARLE High School, THOMAS JEFFERSON SWCD
- *Harrisonburg High School places 6th at Canon Envirothon
2006 VA COMPETITION
- 1st Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
- 2nd Place – Nandua High School, Eastern Shore SWCD
- 3rd Place – Halifax High School, Halifax SWCD
- *Fort Defiance High School wins and places 1st at Canon Envirothon
2005 – Fort Defiance High School Places Second at Canon Envirothon
2004 – VA COMPETITION – James Madison University, Harrisonburg VA
- 1st Place – Augusta County 4H, Headwaters SWCD
- 2nd Place – Rockbridge High School, Natural Bridge SWCD
- 3rd Place – Powhatan High School, Monacan SWCD
- *Augusta County 4H Homeschool places 2nd at Canon North American Envirothon Competition…..
2003 – VA COMPETITION – Airfield 4-H Education Center, Wakefield VA
- 1st Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
- 2nd Place – Central High School, Lord Fairfax SWCD
- 3rd Place – Halifax High School, Halifax SWCD
2002 – Virginia State Arboretum, Winchester VA
- 1st Place – Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
- 2nd Place – Osbourne Park High School, Prince William SWCD
- 3rd Place – Central High School, Lord Fairfax SWCD
2001- Smith Mt. Lake 4H Educational Center , Wirtz , VA
- 1st Place – Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
- 2nd Place – Amelia County High School, Piedmont SWCD
- 3rd Place – Franklin County High School, Blue Ridge SWCD
2000 – Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center, Appomattox, VA
- 1st place – Albemarle Environmental Club, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
- 2nd place – Central High School FFA, Shenandoah County
- 3rd place – Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
1999 – Seashore/First Landing State Park, Virginia Beach
- 1st – Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
- 2nd – Albemarle/Monticello High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
- 3rd – New Kent High School, Colonial SWCD
1998 – Northern Virginia 4-H Center, Front Royal
- 1st – Thomas Jefferson SWCD – Albemarle High School
- 2nd – Shenandoah Valley SWCD – Harrisonburg High School
- 3rd – Piedmont SWCD – Fuqua School
1997 – Camp Blue Ridge, Montebello
- 1st – Shenandoah Valley SWCD – Turner Ashby High School
- 2nd – Piedmont SWCD – Fuqua School
- 3rd – Daniel Boone SWCD – Thomas Walker High School
1996 – Hungry Mother State Park, Marion
- 1st – Eastern Shore SWCD – Nandua High School
- 2nd – Daniel Boone SWCD – Thomas Walker High School
- 3rd – Shenandoah Valley SWCD – Turner Ashby High School
1995 – Douthat State Park
- 1st – Eastern Shore SWCD – Nandua High School
- 2nd – Daniel Boone SWCD – Thomas Walker High School
- 3rd – Appomattox River SWCD – Dinwiddie High School