The Envirothon is a program for high school students designed to cultivate a desire to learn more about our natural resources and environmental issues through competitive events. Regional Envirothon competitions held each spring in parks and natural areas across Michigan yield top teams that can then go on to compete in the State Envirothon. The team who wins the state competition becomes the team to represent Michigan in the Canon Envirothon.

Envirothon teams take an in-depth look at:

Aquatic Ecology

• Energy
• Forestry
• Soils/Geology
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Wildlife
• A current environmental issue (varies year to year)

EnviroTeam
Students are challenged to use teamwork to answer questions related to our natural resources and to develop creative solutions to environmental problems. The motto of the Michigan Envirothon is, "Working together we can make a difference."
Olivet College offers scholarships to members on the first, second and third place teams. Plaques, ribbons and other prizes are also awarded. Teams are recognized for excellence in each Envirothon subject area test scores, the Community Outreach Project scores and for the overall test & Community Outreach Project scores combined. There are usually some fun extra awards too! Participation in Envirothon is something you can include in college applications, job applications, etc. After all, it's an academic competition!

To compete in the state competition, students must also perform a Community Outreach Project in their own community. Team work, development of planning skills, fostering a sense of community and turning environmental knowledge into action are just a few of the skills realized by this component. What stands out most in these juried projects is the student’s highly evident pride in making a tangible difference. As student Erik Colegrove from Davison High School noted, “Community is the catalyst for ‘saving’ the environment. If the public is not persuaded to adopt new ideas, then change is precluded.”
EnviroTeam

Resource packets are available for all seven Envirothon subject areas. Contact the Michigan Envirothon Coordinator for more information.

If you are interested in starting a new Envirothon team in Eaton County, please contact Andrea Stay at (517) 543-5848 X 5 or andrea.stay@mi.nacdnet.net

For information about the state-wide Michigan Envirothon contact:
Angela Sandusky, Michigan Envirothon Coordinator
3001 Coolidge Rd., Suite 250 East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: (517) 324-4421 • Fax: (517) 324-4435
E-mail: mienvirothon@macd.org

EAST LANSING, Jan. 11, 2013 – Farmers in 21 Michigan counties are eligible for financial assistance to help reduce greenhouse gases by planting cover crops and implementing new nutrient management practices.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has $10 million in conservation funding available for greenhouse gas initiatives in 13 states including Michigan. Farmers in eligible counties can apply for the financial assistance that will pay a portion of the cost for planting cover crops or adopting nutrient management practices. Farmers must submit an application at their local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office by Feb. 15 to be considered for funding.

Counties eligible for USDA Greenhouse Gas Initiative funding include Barry, Bay, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Huron, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lenawee, Montcalm, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Joseph, Tuscola and Van Buren. Successful applicants will receive a set payment after the conservation practice is implemented.

For more information about USDA Greenhouse Gas conservation assistance is available at local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offices or online at www.mi.nrcs.gov.  A list of NRCS offices in Michigan is posted online at www.mi.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/Field%20Offices.html.

Eaton Conservation District is both excited and humbled to be recognized as a leading provider of conservation programs locally and statewide. ECD received multiple awards for excellence at the recent Michigan Association of Conservation Districts annual convention held in Lansing, MI from November 7th-9th.

Andrea Stay received the MACDE award for "Administrator of the Year". Jennifer Silveri received the MDARD award "Most risk reductions completed on farms" through the MAEAP program and ECD won Grand Host of the Year for support and leadership to our local MAEAP Program. 

ECD has recently unveiled a new website!  Please take a moment to explore the site.  Let us know what you think!