History of the New Jersey Envirothon
The first New Jersey Envirothon was held in Mercer County in 1994. It was hosted by the Mercer County Soil Conservation District, and organized through a partnership of New Jersey Soil Districts, plus state and federal natural resource agencies. Inspiration came from our neighbors in Pennsylvania, where high school students had been gathering since 1979 to challenge their environmental knowledge and to explore potential natural resource careers. The early competitions were called the “Environmental Olympics”, later the “Enviro-Olympics”, and then the “Envirothon”. Neighboring states began to offer their own competitions, and the first “National Envirothon” was held in 1988. With the entrance of the first Canadian team in 1992, it became a North American event. Click here for a detailed history of the North American Envirothon.
Four teams competed in the first New Jersey Envirothon in 1994. Today, there are approximately 35 to 40 teams competing in our state. The winning team earns the honor of representing New Jersey at the North American Envirothon, where they will compete against other top teams from approximately 55 US states and Canadian provinces. See below for a list of host sites and current issues for past New Jersey events. Click here to view the archive of New Jersey Envirothon newsletters. For more information about the Envirothon, contact the NJ Envirothon Coordinator or your local Soil Conservation District. |
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Previous NJ Envirothons
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2024 Environmental Issue
"Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future" Big Brook Park 521 Route 520 Marlboro, NJ 07746 Saturday, May 18, 2024 2023 Environmental Issue
"Adapting to a Changing Climate" YMCA Camp Zehnder 3911 Herbertsville Rd Wall, NJ 08089 Saturday, May 20, 2023 |
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2022 Environmental Issue
"Waste to Resources" Virtual Station Testing: Saturday, May 7, 2022 Virtual Team Presentation: Saturday, May 21, 2022 |
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2021 Environmental Issue
"Water Resource Management: Local Control and Local Solutions" Virtual Station Testing: Saturday, May 22, 2021 Virtual Team Presentation: Saturday, June 5, 2021 |
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2020 Environmental Issue
"Water Resource Management: Local Control and Local Solutions" YMCA Camp Topanemus 380 Monmouth Road Millstone, NJ 07728 Saturday, May 2, 2020 |
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
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2019 Environmental Issue
"Agriculture and the Environment: Knowledge & Technology to Feed the World" Great Times Day Camp 223 Ehrke Rd Waterford Works, NJ 08089 Saturday, May 11, 2019 |
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2018 Environmental Issue
"Managing New Jersey Pasture and Western Rangeland: Balancing Diverse Views" Boy Scout Camp Grice 124 Daretown Rd Elmer, NJ 08318 Saturday, May 5, 2018 |
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2017 Environmental Issue
"Agricultural Soil and Water Conservation Stewardship" Schooley's Mountain Park 91 East Springtown Road Washington Township, NJ Saturday, May 13, 2017 |
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2016 Environmental Issue
"Invasive Species: A Challenge to the Environment, Economy & Society" North Branch Park 355 Milltown Road Bridgewater, NJ Saturday, May 14, 2016 |
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2015 Environmental Issue
"Urban/Community Forestry" Cape May County 4-H Fair Grounds 355 Court House South Dennis Road Cape May Court House, NJ Saturday, May 2, 2015 |
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2015 First Place: Marine Academy of Technology & Environmental Science (MATES) Team 1 ~ Monmouth County
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2014 Environmental Issue
"Sustainable Local Agriculture / Locally Grown" School of Conservation 1 Wapalanne Road Branchville, New Jersey Saturday, May 3, 2014 |
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2014 First Place: Marine Acadamy of Technology & Environmental Science (MATES) Team 1
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2013 Environmental Issue
"Sustainable Rangeland Management: Achieving a balance between Traditional Agricultural Uses with Non-Agricultural uses on Montana Rangelands" Camp Kettle Run 30 Sawmill Road Medford, Burlington County, New Jersey Saturday, May 4, 2013 |
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2013 First Place: Marine Academy of Technology & Environmental Science (MATES) Team 2 ~ Ocean County
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2012 Environmental Issue
"Nonpoint Source Pollution/Low Impact Development" Camp Sacajawea in Farmingdale 242 Adelphia Road Farmingdale, Monmouth County, New Jersey Saturday, May 5, 2012 |
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2011 Environmental Issue
"Salt & Fresh Water Estuaries" Camp Glen Gray Mahwah, Bergen County, New Jersey Saturday, May 7, 2011 |
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2011 First Place: Marine Academy of Technology & Environmental Science (MATES) Team 1 ~ Ocean County
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2010 Environmental Issue
"Protection of Groundwater Through Urban, Agricultural and Environmental Planning" Camp Sacajawea Newfield, Gloucester County, New Jersey Saturday, May 8, 2010 |
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2010 First Place: Marine Academy of Technology & Environmental Sceince (MATES) Team 1 ~ Ocean County
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2009 Environmental Issue
"Biodiversity in a Changing World" School of Conservation 1 Wapalanne Road Branchville, New Jersey Saturday, May 9, 2009 |
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2009 First Place: Kittatinny Regional High School Team 1 ~ Sussex County
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2008 Environmental Issue
"Recreational Impacts on Natural Resources" Duke Farms Hillsborough, Somerset County, New Jersey Saturday, May 10, 2008 |
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2008 First Place: Bridgewater Raritan High School Team 1 ~ Somerset County
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2007 Environmental Issue
"Alternative/Renewable Energy" Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education Waretown, New Jersey Saturday, May 12, 2007 |
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2007 First Place: High Tech High School ~ Hudson County
2006 Environmental Issue
"Water Stewardship in A Changing Climate"
"Water Stewardship in A Changing Climate"
2005 Environmental Issue
"Managing Cultural Landscapes"
North Branch Park
355 Milltown Road
Bridgewater, NJ
"Managing Cultural Landscapes"
North Branch Park
355 Milltown Road
Bridgewater, NJ
2004 Environmental Issue
"Natural Resource Management in the Urban Environment"
"Natural Resource Management in the Urban Environment"
2003 Environmental Issue
"Agricultural Land Conservation & Preservation"
"Agricultural Land Conservation & Preservation"
2002 Environmental Issue
"Introduced Species and Their Effect on Biodiversity"
Liberty State Park
Jersey City, NJ
"Introduced Species and Their Effect on Biodiversity"
Liberty State Park
Jersey City, NJ
2001 Environmental Issue
"Urban Non-Point Source Pollution-Household/Home Site"
"Urban Non-Point Source Pollution-Household/Home Site"
2000 Environmental Issue
"Wetland Management"
"Wetland Management"
1999 Environmental Issue
"Wildfire Management"
"Wildfire Management"
1998 Environmental Issue
"Non-Point Source Pollution-Urban Waste"
"Non-Point Source Pollution-Urban Waste"
1997 Environmental Issue
"Pest Management"
"Pest Management"
1996 Environmental Issue
"Greenways"
"Greenways"
1995 Environmental Issue
"Ground Water"
"Ground Water"
1994 Environmental Issue
"Acid Rain"
"Acid Rain"
First New Jersey Envirothon was held in Mercer County in 1994
1993 Environmental Issue
"Reclaimed Land"
"Reclaimed Land"
1992 Environmental Issue
"Wetlands"
"Wetlands"
First Canadian Team enters the Envirothon in 1992
1991 Environmental Issue
"Land Use"
"Land Use"
1990 Environmental Issue
"Quality Water For Life"
"Quality Water For Life"
1989 Environmental Issue
1988 Environmental Issue
"Solid Waste: The Sighting of a Landfill"
"Solid Waste: The Sighting of a Landfill"
The first “National Envirothon” was held in 1988
In Pennsylvania, high school students had been gathering since 1979 to challenge their environmental knowledge and to explore potential natural resource careers. The early competitions were called the “Environmental Olympics,” later the “Enviro-Olympics,” and then the “Envirothon.” Neighboring states began to offer their own competitions and the first “National Envirothon” was held in 1988.
