The West Virginia Envirothon is a conservation education program and competition for students in grades 9 through 12. The West Virginia Envirothon focuses on five subject areas: aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and a current environmental topic. By participating in the Envirothon program students learn about West Virginia's diverse ecosystem and how they can help conserve and protect it for future generations.
How can I participate?
To participate in the West Virginia Envirothon, you must first put together a team of five students and one adult advisor/chaperone. Teams can be created through school clubs, home school groups, classes, 4-H groups, scout troops, etc. The next step is to register your team for the upcoming West Virginia Envirothon, get your study materials and prepare for the competition. Teams are tested on their natural resource knowledge, skills, and problem-solving abilities.
Study Materials
Aquatics
Water is essential to life. Most animals and plants contain more than 60 percent water by volume. Without it, the biosphere that exists on the surface of the Earth wouldn't be possible.
Aquatics Study Materials
Forestry
There are many useful tools when studying and caring for our forests, a vital part of our ecosystem.
Foresty Study Materials .
Soils
Soil is natural body on the earth's surface that is characterized by horizons or layers, and the ability to support rooted plants in a natural environment. Soils Study Materials
Wildlife
West Virginia's diverse landscape is home to more than 127 species of wild mammals, 178 species of fish, nearly 300 species of bird...
Source: WV DNR
Wildlife Study Materials
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Current Issues - 5th Topic
Teams will need to follow this guide for their 5th Topic presentations:
2026 WV Special (5th) Topic: Nonpoint Source Pollution Mitigation
5th Topic Web Information:
https://envirothon.org/2026-mississippi/
5th Topic Study Guide
There is No Point to This Pollution
Envirothon Scholarship Information
First Place Team: $5,000
Second Place Team: $4,000
Third Place Team: $3,000
Fourth Place Team: $2,000
Fifth Place Team: $1,500
Awards
Teams MUST attend all scheduled events. Penalties may be handed out to teams that do not attend events
- All teams are eligible
- Station Awards will be presended as follows:
- For the purpose of stimulating conservation and environmental education, students will be awarded $250 per team for the highest team score at each station. The stations include Forestry, Aquatics, Soils, Wildlife and current 5th topic.
- For the purpose of stimulating conservation and Environmental education within the classroom, $250 will be awarded to the station winner's Advisor/Teacher. The stations include Forestry, Aquatics, Soils, Wildlife and current 5th topic.
- Awards will be presented to the top scoring team in each subject category: Wildlife, Aquatics, Forestry, Soils and current 5th topic.
- Ties will be settled by a tie breaker question or questions presented at each testing site, Aquatics, Forestry, Wildlife, Soils and current 5th topic.
Rookie Team Award
Awarded to the highest-scoring first-year competing team in the amount of $600 for the team, broken down to $100 per member and $100 to the Coach.
Oral Presentation Rules
The flash drive will be given to the team at the time scheduled for their 15 minute practice session. To receive full credit, presentations must be between 5 minutes and 7 minutes. Points will be deducted according to the score sheet if they take less time. Teams will be stopped at 7 minutes. This will allow time for a three minute Question and Answer session with the judges.
The top five teams will give the same presentation as the previous day, complete with 3 minute Question and Answer period. After that, each team will be asked the same bonus question. Teams will have up to three minutes to confer on an answer, and one minute to provide the answer.
At the end of the competition, all presentations not picked up will be recycled.
- 10 slide maximum
- No videos, sound, or hyperlinks allowed
- 3 X 5 inch notecards can be used to read from; cannot be used as visual aid
- Windows operating system will be used for all presentations utilizing Microsoft Office PowerPoint
- Absolutely no props. Pointer will be provided
- No team, school, county, district, or personal names on presentation
- No identifying clothing to be worn, Envirothon t-shirts required
- Points will be deducted for any infractions of these rules
Envirothon Training Opportunities
Upcoming training for Teachers and Students
The West Fork Conservation District will hold an Envirothon team training day for students on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Doddridge County Park on Snowbird Road.
The training will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Four topics will be covered during the training: Forestry, Soils, Aquatics and Wildlife. The fifth topic can be found at www.wvca.us under the Education tab.
Please call (304) 627-2160 or email Jennifer at: wfcdoffice@gmail.com by Friday, March 13, if you plan to attend. West Fork staff will need to know the number of students and advisors attending for lunch purposes. Please dress accordingly, as it may be chilly.
Notice - Date has changed to March 31st
The Upper Ohio Conservation District will host an Envirothon training for teams and advisors at the Tyler Rod and Gun Club on Tuesday, March 31, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The club is located at 155 Shiloh Road in Friendly, WV, in Tyler County
