Nearly 100 high school students from around Warren County brought their science knowledge to Warren County Fish Hatchery on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, as Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District held its annual “Envirothon” science competition.
Students from eight school districts – Warrensburg, Queensbury, Hadley-Luzerne, North Warren, Glens Falls, 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. Much of 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 focused on non-point source pollution, and how homeowners can make a difference on their properties.
Envirothon 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.
For the second year in a row, 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 27-28, 2026 at SUNY Cortland. Teams from Warrensburg High finished second and 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 $700 worth of prizes for students that included gift certificates from Fort William Henry Hotel, Revolution Rail Co. and Adirondack Extreme.
Participants also enjoyed a barbecue lunch prepared by SWCD staff, and heard presentations from Mike Federice and Joe Rupe from SUNY ESF Adirondack Forest Properties and Clint McCarthy, Associate Professor of Outdoor and Physical Education at SUNY Adirondack.
Said Jim Lieberum, Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District Manager: “We would like to thank the schools, teachers, Warren County Fish Hatchery staff, sponsors and the volunteers who helped us make this a great day of outdoor education and camaraderie among local schools. It is always uplifting to see students work together to focus on science. We are excited for Envirothon 2027 next April!”
Warren County Envirothon is held each spring and all Warren County school districts are invited and encouraged to participate.
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.
Thanks go to this year's sponsors -- Town Highway Superintendents Association of Warren County, Impressive Imprints, Suozzo, Doty, & Associates, Professional Engineering. PLLC, Stewart's Shops, Adirondack Extreme, LaBella Associates, East Shore Schroon Lake Association, Revolution Rail, Common Roots Foundation, Fort William Henry Hotel, Sidekick Creative, Warren County Conservation Council, Silver Bay YMCA, Hometown Area Realty, Finch Paper, Fountain Square Trading Post, Lake George Association, Etched in Valor, Adirondack Extreme, Killer Threads Crochet and Warren County Department of Workforce Development.
Photo attached: The North Warren High School Envirothon team that won Warren County’s 2026 Envirothon works on one of the environmental quizzes during the 2026 Warren County Envirothon program April 29, 2026 at Warren County Fish Hatchery.
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