The 2024 Illinois Envirothon, organized by Soil & Water Conservation Districts, was held Wednesday and Thursday May 8-9 at Allerton Park’s 4-H Memorial Camp, near Monticello.
Eighteen teams of high schoolers from around the state gathered to compete on conservation-based themes, with the winner headed to the national competition in Geneva, New York this summer.
“I think they end up having even more fun than they thought they would. It’s not just like another day at school, and the camp here is beautiful, so I couldn’t ask for a better place or actually a better group of people,” said Ashley (Aber) Wallace, Envirothon organizer and of the Bureau County SWCD. “My absolute favorite thing is just seeing everyone come together. The volunteers are amazing and the students have so much fun.”
The Top 3 2024 Illinois Envirothon Teams
First Place: Adlai E. Stevenson (Lincolnshire) High School (LUC 16)
Second Place: Richland County High School (LUC 11)
Third Place: Stark County High School (LUC 2)
Top Overall FFA Team: Richland County High School
Adlai Stevenson HS will compete at the National Envirothon event in Geneva, New York July 28 – August 3. Richland County HS will represent at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana October 22 – 26.
Category Winners
Aquatics (Tie): Morris Community High School (LUC 3) and Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Soils: Stark County High School
Forestry: Stark County High School
Wildlife: Stark County High School
Current Event: Chrisman High School (LUC 7)
Oral Presentation: Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Best Team T-Shirt: Morris Community High School
Team Spirit Award: Newman Central Catholic High School (LUC 1)
A very special thank you to all volunteers, presenters, and judges who made this event possible. Here’s presenters who taught stations on Wednesday, and other photos …
Sandy Perkins, former biology teacer at Triad High School in Troy, speaks on the chemical structure of water as she presents on aquatics.
Liz Miernicki, of the Illinos Natural History Survey in Champaign, presents on soils and the geology of Illinois.
Dave Shiley, of Richland Community College in Decatur and formerly of the University of Illinois Extension, speaks on forestry.
Curtis Sinclair, an extension specialist and environmental educator with the University of Illinois Extension, speaks on the principles of electricity for renewable energy, this yearÕs current event.
Elizabeth Burns, NRCS DeWitt, speaks on different online tools used to monitor wildlife populations, at the wildlife station.
Ashley (Aber) Wallace, Illinois Envirothon Coordinator and of Bureau SWCD, welcomes students to the 2024 event.
Signing in at Allerton Park’s 4-H Memorial Camp.
Joyce Scholl and Jannifer Powelson of Stark County SWCD, take team photos.
Students checking out the pond at 4-H Memorial Camp.
No such thing as down time at Envirothon.
Students fill the dining hall for Envirothon presentations.
Learning about aquatics.
Examining soils during practical testing.
Practical testing after soil presentation.
Hands on with soil structure.
Envirothon 2024.
During forestry at Envirothon 2024.
Envirothon 2024.
Figuring out lumber potential, forestry during Envirothon 2024.
Listening to renewable energy presentation, Envirothon 2024.
