More than 90 high school students from around Warren County brought their science knowledge to Warren County Fish Hatchery on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, as Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District held its annual “Envirothon” science competition.
Students from school districts – Warrensburg, Queensbury, Hadley-Luzerne, North Warren, Johnsburg, Lake George, Prospect School and Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES – competed to see who has learned the most about environment-related topics in the hands-on, single-day event. The studying occurs outside, in the woods, at the Fish Hatchery visitor center, and along hatchery trout ponds.
The teams compete against one another on five core Environmental Science topics – wildlife, forestry, aquatic ecology, soil and a “current issue” that changes annually. This year’s issue was "Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change"
Teams prepare for the competition by reviewing core study topics ahead of the event, and having review sessions with Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff. The SWCD staff partners with state and local professionals to write and administer exams taken by students during Envirothon.
A team from North Warren Central School was crowned as champion of this year’s event, and will represent Warren County at the NY State Competition May 28-29, 2025 at SUNY Cortland. Johnsburg finished second and Warrensburg third.
Warren County Workforce Development Director Liza Ochsendorf and staff were on hand to share information with students about free career services and employment assistance for those considering science and environmental careers, and the Department of Workforce Development donated prizes for students that included Lake George Steamboat Co. cruise tickets, sunglasses from Fountain Square Outfitters and plants from Glens Falls Vertical Garden.
Participants also enjoyed a barbecue lunch prepared by SWCD staff, and heard a presentation from Holly Ahern, SUNY Adirondack Professor of Microbiology, about the college’s science degree programs.
Said Jim Lieberum, Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District Manager: “We are very thankful to the schools, teachers, Warren County Fish Hatchery staff, sponsors and the volunteers who helped us make this such a fun day of education and camaraderie among schools. It is always uplifting to see local students work together to focus on science. We can’t wait to do it again next year.”
Warren County Envirothon is held each spring and all Warren County school districts are invited and encouraged to participate next year.
The Warren County SWCD staff would like to offer a special thank you to all of the local businesses and groups that donated to the program to make the day as fun-filled and educational as possible for the area students.
They included Warren County Department of Workforce Development, East Shore Schroon Lake Association, SUNY ESF, Sustainable PR, Brookfield Power, Town Highway Superintendents of Warren County, Warren County Conservation Council, Six Flags, Fountain Square Outfitters, Revolution Rail, City of Glens Falls, Lake George Steamboat Co., Hometown Area Realty, Brewnited, EJ Prescott, Arrow Bank, Etched in Valor, Glens Falls Chronicle, Suozzo, Doty & Associates and Impressive Imprints.
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