Rockdale 4H Wins 2010 Georgia Envirothon

April 20, 2010 by Lee Carmon

With a score of 415 points, Rockdale 4H won the 2010 Georgia Envirothon held April 16-17 at Camp Will-A-Way, Ft. Yargo State Park.

This year, 16 teams competed in the two-day event for a chance to represent Georgia at the Canon Envirothon. The teams represented Appling County HS, Camden County HS, Columbus HS, Fernbank Science Center, Greater Atlanta Christian School, Jasper County HS, Northside HS, Oconee County HS, Ola HS, Rockdale 4-H, Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, Stephens County HS, and Ware County School for Agriculture, Forestry, and Environmental Sciences (Ware Magnet).

The competition began with instructions by Carrie Fowler, Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission, on this year’s presentation exercise on Protection of Groundwater through Urban, Agricultural and Environmental Planning. Following Carrie’s presentation, teams scattered throughout the camp to spend 3 hours preparing their presentation. At 3:30, teams turned in their presentations and made use of the recreational amenities at the camp until their scheduled time to make their presentation in front of a panel of three judges. Following the conclusion of the presentations, everyone enjoyed a pizza dinner and the evening’s program on reptiles presented by Pete Griffin, Wildlife Interpretive Specialist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Pete entertained everyone with his snakes, alligator, and turtles. After Pete’s presentation, many students and a few visitors, spent some time holding and petting the snakes and talking with Pete!

Saturday morning began early with breakfast at 7 a.m. and station testing beginning at 8 a.m. sharp. Each team rotated through the four remaining test stations (water, forestry, wildlife, and soils) while the current environmental judges viewed and scored video presentations of the teams they did not judge live. Every hour, four teams rotated to a different testing station until they had visited all four stations.

At 1:00 p.m., teams and their advisors gathered in the Dining Hall anxiously awaiting presentation of the awards. This year’s awards were all fabricated from natural materials including recycled glass and wood.

Rockdale 4H won the competition with a total score of 415 points and also won the Water Station with a score of 90 points. Camden County finished 2d overall with a total score of 402.5 points and also won the Foresty and Soils stations with a score of 83.5 and 81 respectively. Fernbank Science Center placed 3rd overall with a total score of 401 points and Stephens County Red placed 4th overall with a total score of 397 points. Greater Atlanta Christian’s Team Frieburger won the Current Environmental with a score of 92 and Northside won the Wildlife station with a score of 81. See the list of teams that placed in the top four overall and in each category.

Rockdale 4H will represent Georgia at the Canon Envirothon, August 1-6 at the University of California, Fresno.

Thanks to the following sponsors for their support of the 2010 Georgia Envirothon:
Air Tran
Canon Envirothon
Chestatee-Chattachoochee RC&D Council
Clayton County Soil and Water Conservation District
Clayton County Water Authority
Georgia Forestry Commission
Georgia Agricultural Education
Georgia Association of Conservation District Supervisors
GA Dept of Natural Resources – Wildlife Resources Div.
Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission
Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District
Northeast Georgia Regional Commission
Oconee River RC&D Council
Pike County Agribusiness Authority
Pine Country RC&D Council
Plexus Web Creations
Rolling Hills RC&D Council
Soil and Water Conservation Society – Georgia Chapter
Soil Science Society of Georgia
U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service
U.S. Forest Service
Upper Ocmulgee River RC&D Council
Walton County Soil and Water Conservation District
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, UGA

Thank you to our volunteers for without your help, the competition would not have happened:
Beryl Budd
Lee Carmon
Sherry Carlson
Kelli Coleman
Carrie Fowler
Mary Gazaway
Emily Lakemaker
Drew Marzak
Loren Moore
Calla Pederson
Dee Pederson
Norma Rainwater
Ken Riddleberger
Ben Ruzowicz
Emily Saunders
Jennifer Standridge
Lauren Zdunczyk