Envirothon

A Natural Resource Competition for High School Students 

Envirothon is a nationwide program that brings together high school students interested in natural resources and environmental science. The fun and competitive spirit of Envirothon motivates students to learn about real-world problems and solutions, and culminates in regional competitions, followed by the Washington State competition, and the national competition every summer with teams coming from across the U.S. and Canada.

Teams from Pierce County participate in the South Puget Sound Regional event against other teams of high school students from Thurston, Lewis, Kitsap, Mason, and Grays Harbor Counties. Teams rotate through a series of stations where they are tested on the topics of aquatics, forestry, soils/land use, and wildlife. In addition to these subjects, there is a featured current issue every year, chosen by the national competition host, which is explored through a team presentation. 

Important Links

Washington State Envirothon Website

Washington State Envirothon Teacher's Handbook  

National Envirothon Website

The Current Competition
Curriculum Guidelines and Resources
Rules and Regulations

Students at the Wildlife Testing StationStudents at the wildlife testing station identifying skulls.

A group of five highschool students stand together in front of trees

Stadium High School the South Puget Sound Regional 2025 Pierce County winning team.

2026 South Puget Sound Regional competition 

Date: April 23rd, 2026
Location: Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Current Issue: Non-Point Source Pollution: It begins at home!



Workshops

Workshops are an excellent way to get more hands-on learning with the subjects covered during the competition. These workshops are entirely optional but highly encouraged.  Register for each 2026 workshop by clicking the buttons below!

​Wildlife workshop button with an animal skull backgroundAquatics workshop button with a water background
Soils workshop button with a soil profile backgroundForestry workshop button with a tree background
Current issue workshop button with a storm drain background


Study Bins

Study bins are available to help teams prepare for the competition. Renting study bins provides opportunities for students to practice the skills they will need to use during the competition.

There is one study bin for each of the 4 main subject areas of Envirothon (aquatics, forestry, soils/land use, and wildlife). Each bin contains written instructions and activities, as well the following items:

Aquatics bin:
Water quality testing equipment:
  • E.C. meter
  • Thermometer
  • Secchi disk
  • Water Test Kit
Books and materials:
  • Inland Fishes of Washington
  • A River Runs Through It
  • Macroinvertebrate flash cards
Forestry bin:
Tree measurement tools:
  • Clinometer
  • DBH tape
  • Compass
  • Transect tape
Books and materials:
  • Land Use, Environment, and Social Change
  • Plants of the Pacific Northwest
  • Plant flash cards
Soils/land use bin:
Soil sampling tools:
  • Basins
  • Sieve and funnel
  • Glass jars
  • Trowel
Books and materials:
  • A Sand County Almanac
  • Silent Spring
  • Munsell Soil Color Charts
Wildlife bin:
Animal skulls, bones, tracks and specimens:
  • Herbivores
  • Birds of prey
  • Carnivores
  • Rodents
Books and materials:
  • Birds of Washington
  • Plants and Animals of the Pacific Northwest
  • Mammals of Washington
  • Skull flash cards

Study Bin Rental Request Calendar