The spruce and maple forests of Prince Edward Island may be quite different from the oak and hickory forests of Missouri, but that doesn’t scare the Island’s 2005 CANON ENVIROTHON team from Three Oaks Senior High School.
Team Captain Ashley Martin and teammates Jessica McGill, Stephanie Barlow, Melissa McCabe, and Shana Linkletter will be travelling to Springfield, Missouri in late July to compete against high school students from across North America by demonstrating their knowledge of natural resource sciences such as forestry, wildlife, aquatics and soils. Team advisors Stephen and Tara Wenn are travelling with the team to help them focus their efforts and prepare for the 2005 competition.
Because Missouri has some 140 different tree species, the PEI team must learn how to identify nine species of oak, five hickories, and at least 23 other tree species without ever actually seeing most of them in the wild. Add in some 63 species of reptiles, 20 species of fish, deep alluvial soils and requirements for public speaking and consensus building and the team has their work cut out for them.
The Three Oaks team finished first in the 2005 Provincial Forest ENVIROTHON competition. ENVIROTHON focuses on developing skills and understanding of the complexities of natural resource sciences and then putting these skills and concepts into action. This voluntary education program provides students with insights into the four core subjects of forests, wildlife, aquatics and soils sciences, decision-making processes, public speaking, and team building. Students also receive opportunities to meet with professionals in the various disciplines to discuss the science and decision-making processes involved in their daily work.
The 2005 Canon ENVIROTHON also features a special fifth subject which changes from year to year. For 2005, it is Conserving Cultural Landscapes.
“When we think of landscapes, we often only think of them in terms of scenery and beauty, yet people influence and are influenced by the land,” said ENVIROTHON coordinator Ken Mayhew. “The “traditional” Island landscape is thought of as a blend of farm, forest and water, yet this is a manufactured landscape and it is changing in response to tourism and urban developments, larger farms, and other factors. We have challenged the students to define the cultural aspects of our traditional landscape and develop effective strategies for the conservation of those aspects.”
Mr. Mayhew noted that this is an issue in most of the developed world and will play a central role in the 2005 ENVIROTHON challenge in Missouri.
This year, J.D. Irving, Limited supported the fund-raising efforts of the Three Oaks students by making a major financial commitment to the team. J.D. Irving, Limited supports ENVIROTHON across the Maritimes because the company believes that ENVIROTHON is an excellent science-based program that enables young people to gain a better understanding and appreciation for diverse ecosystems. It see hands-on education in nature's outdoor classroom as the best way to engage and inform the next generation of stewards for the environment.
Prince Edward Island has competed in ENVIROTHON since 1999 and sent teams to California, Nova Scotia, Maryland, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Massachusetts. There are currently four Island high schools actively involved in the Provincial Forest ENVIROTHON but Mr. Mayhew indicated that the program has room to expand. He encouraged teachers and students with an interest in outdoor education and natural resource sciences to contact him at the PEI Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry by calling (902) 368-6450.
Mr. Mayhew also thanked Canon Canada, Canon USA, the Nova Scotia Forestry Association, Holland College, the Island Nature Trust, Natural Resources Canada, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, and the Prince Edward Island Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Environment, Energy and Forestry for their continued financial and technical support.