Events teach area pupils about the environment

A Trumbull County group participated in both
competitions.

CORTLAND — Ten teams of middle school pupils participated in the Trumbull Soil and Water Conservation District’s Junior Envirothon at Mosquito Lake Park Campground.

Local western Pennsylvania schools also participated in a similar event, the second annual Pymatuning/Shenango Watershed Challenge, held at Munnell Run Farm in Mercer, Pa.

The Trumbull County event featured pupils in grades six through eight who got hands-on learning in five areas: soils, forestry, aquatics, wildlife and renewable resources/alternative fuels.

Pupils met with professionals from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Division of Forestry, Division of Soil and Water and independent environmental educators. The event was Oct. 11.

They learned to identify kinds of fish and the impact of pollution on streams. Pupils used a soil survey and interpreted a soil profile in a soil pit. Forest ecology and forest management, along with tree species identification, were part of the forestry test.

First place went to TEACH, Trumbull Education Association of Christian Home-schoolers. Members of the team are Vincent Barnovsky, Daniel Earl, Joshua McFall, Moriah McKinnon and Joshua Shaffer.

Second place went to Champion Middle School, whose members are Rachael Bickel, Jonathon Boyd, Megan Harkins, Alexis Nasonti and Eric Sindledecker.

Third place went to Southington Middle School, whose team members are Ian Arbogast, Hunter Mckenney, Connor Oakford, Robert Ruschak and David Warner.

Other schools that participated were W.S. Guy Middle School in Liberty and Neal Middle School in the Mathews school district.

For information on participating in future events, call Kelly Hardval, SWCD education coordinator, at (330) 637-2056, Ext. 110.

TEACH and 19 teams from Mercer and Lawrence counties in Pennsylvania participated in the Watershed Challenge, which was run by the Penn Ohio Watershed Association. It was held Oct. 10.

The 19 teams participating were from Jamestown; Laurel; Greenville; Shenango; Ellwood City; Saegertown; West Middlesex; Greenville; Mercer; Conneaut Lake and Hermitage.