13 teams vie in watershed competition

STAFF REPORT

MERCER, Pa. — Thirteen middle school teams from Trumbull, Crawford and Mercer counties attended the 4th Annual Pymatuning/

Shenango Watershed Challenge outdoor environmental competition recently.

The competition, sponsored by the Penn Ohio Watershed Association, took place at Munnell Run Farm.

The teams were tested in five resource categories including aquatics, forestry, soils, watersheds and wildlife. Each category was presented by different natural-

resource professionals including biologists, soil scientists, wildlife officers, foresters and naturalists.

First place went to the James-

town Middle School. Second was Laurel. The T.E.A.C.H. (Trumbull Education Association of Christian Homeschoolers) team finished third. The team consisted of Nathaneal Toth, James Gilcher, Megan Dickenson and Rachel McFall. They are coached by Patty McFall and Tracy Dickenson.

Other participating teams came from Conneaut, Ellwood City, Saegertown and Greenville.

Students interacted with local natural-resources professionals as they competed to correctly answer questions of general knowledge and site-specific questions. Among them were questions on tree species and age of a tree and identifying soil-quality indicators.

Sponsors and volunteers for this event were the conservation districts in each county.