The Manitoba Association of Watersheds (MAW) is proud to announce that they are the new home of the Manitoba Envirothon. After 26 years as host, the Manitoba Forestry Association (MFA) has recently handed over the role to MAW.
The Manitoba Envirothon is an annual STEM-based environmental education competition for high school students, designed to encourage teamwork, problem-solving skills, and public speaking skills while fostering an appreciation for current environmental issues. Envirothon combines the exhilaration of team competition, the challenge of learning, and the experience of using gained knowledge in hands-on activities. This approach to environmental education helps students develop skills necessary to address environmental issues, such as teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, and public debate.
“We want to thank Manitoba Forestry Association and the Manitoba Envirothon steering committee for trusting MAW to lead this initiative going forward. The focus on environmental education aligns seamlessly with the goals of many integrated watershed management plans throughout the province, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase the watershed districts’ commitment to environmental education and awareness through this internationally recognized competition.” – Garry Wasylowski, MAW Board Chair
Providing meaningful professional development opportunities to students and teachers alike, the program continues to serve as an excellent avenue for students with an interest in natural resources, to make important connections in the professional community, and to learn more about future career prospects in the natural sciences and its many related fields.
“The Manitoba Envirothon competition is a perfect fit for our organization as we seek to build awareness of the work done by watershed districts throughout the province. Engaging high school students early will help to increase their understanding of conservation and nature-based solutions, and hopefully help to encourage them to pursue higher education or career opportunities in environmental sciences.” – Lynda Nicol, MAW Executive Director
The competition welcomes high school students from across Manitoba to compete in teams of 5. Each student is provided extensive study resources for 5 topics: Aquatic Ecology, Wildlife Ecology, Plants & Forests, Soils & Land Use, and Integrated Watershed Management. The teams will then convene at one of five regional events happening around the province, competing in a field test and oral presentation. The top teams from the Regional Events will then go on to compete at the Provincial Event, where they have the chance to win a place at the National Conservation Foundation Competition alongside winners from other provinces and U.S. states.
The Regional Competitions will take place as follows:
- West: Riverbank Discovery Centre – Brandon – April 22nd, 2024
- South: Pinkerton Lakes Wildlife Refuge – Treherne – April 17th, 2024
- Central: Fort Whyte Alive – Winnipeg – April 26th, 2024
- East: Tourond Creek Discovery Centre – Hanover – April 24th, 2024
- North: TBD – Thompson – April 17th and 18th, 2024
The Provincial Competition will be hosted at the International Peace Garden from May 23rd – 25th, 2024.