Catalysts team members (L-R): Deaver Propst, Meagan Driver, Mrs. Michelle Tonkin, Lucie Henry, Paula Lopez, and Mrs. Linda Baldwin

HONESDALE - The 18th annual Pike/Wayne Envirothon took place May 8th at Lacawac Sanctuary in Wayne County with first place going to the Catalysts from Wayne Highlands School District.   

The Pike/Wayne Envirothon is a one-day educational competition for high school students designed to test their knowledge, skills and problem solving capabilities regarding our earth’s natural resources coordinated by the Pike and Wayne County Conservation Districts.  Envirothon teams are comprised of three to five students from the same school enrolled in grades 9 through 12. Alternates study with the team and are available in case of the unavailability of another team member. Top scoring teams from each county are eligible to advance to the 2008 PA State Competition at Penn State University, University Park in Centre County with the possibility of continuing on to the 2008 National Canon Envirothon competition at the Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona.

A total of nine student teams represented Delaware Valley, Honesdale, Wallenpaupack and Western Wayne high schools in this year’s event. Students were tested on Aquatics, Forestry, Wildlife, Soils and Land Use and a Current Issue, which changes from year to year. This year’s current issue was “Recreational Impacts on Natural Resources”.  This year’s event also included a hike along the trails at Lacawac Sanctuary with Jen Naugle from Promised Land State Park. 

“The Catalysts” of Honesdale High School will represent Wayne County and the “Green Revolution” from Wallenpaupack will be representing Pike County at the Pennsylvania State Envirothon competition at Penn State University on May 19th and 20th.

The Pike/Wayne Envirothon program is made available through partnerships with the PA Department of Agriculture, PA Department of Environmental Protection, PA Department of Education Office of Environment & Ecology, PA Game Commission, PA Fish & Boat Commission, DCNR Bureau of Forestry and Bureau of State Parks, PPL, USDA Natural Resources and Conservation Service, and many volunteers. Representatives from these agencies provide informational materials and class instruction related to the competition topics.