What is Envirothon?

Envirothon logo

The Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon is a team based natural resources competition for high school students. Students who participate learn stewardship and management concepts and work to solve real world environmental problems. The program is field-oriented, community based and gives students an opportunity to work with natural resource professionals.

Click HERE for a video overview of the Virginia Dominion Envirothon competition!

Who makes up a team and what do they do?

Students work in teams of five. Throughout the school year students prepare to compete at the local level, qualify to then compete at the area level (Loudoun County is part of Area II) and the top three teams from each of the six Soil & Water Conservation District areas in the state compete to be the State Winner. These teams of high school students are tested on their knowledge of natural resources-soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics and a current environmental issue. Students visit five “in-the-field” test stations where written and hands-on problem solving is required along with an oral presentation formulating a strategy to address a specific environmental issue they’ve been presented with. The event is competitive but education is the bottom line.

Teams can be created through school clubs, classes, home school groups, 4-H groups, scout troops, local nature centers etc. The only requirements of at team are a minimum of five students and one adult advisor/chaperone.

Four students accepting their local Envirothon award and prize.

Want to get involved? Contact Jessie.Freeland@lswcd.org to learn more.

The oral presentation subject will be “Non-point source pollution. It starts at home.” Details on this year’s Envirothon Program will be shared along with the unveiling of the 2026 Oral Presentation Scenario. A introductory event was recorded and shared for those who were unable to attend live. You can contact byron.minson@vaswcd.org with any questions about this event.

Envirothon 2025-26 information:

Special Topic information: Non-Point Source Pollution: It begins at home!

The Current Issue is determined by the State/Province hosting the NCF-Envirothon Competition. Starkville, Mississippi is hosting the 2026 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 Mississippi, click HERE.

Local Envirothon Competition: March 14th 2026 @ Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park in Aldie Va.

Area 2 Envirothon Competition: April 23rd 2026 @ Graves Mountain Lodge, Syria Va.

State Envirothon Competition: May 18-19, 2025 (Location TDB)

Additional Resources & Information:

Virginia’s Envirothon program is also supported through the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund. Proceeds from the sale of the Bay license plates help citizens keep the bay healthy by restoring wetlands, planting buffers around waterways, promoting marine life restoration, decreasing pollution and providing educational programs like Envirothon. To purchase a Bay license plate visit: https://dls.virginia.gov/commissions/cbr.htm

Wildlife training details