Riverbank centre welcomes back Envirothon under new organizers

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This article was published 01/02/2024 (673 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon Riverbank Discovery Centre will once again play host to Manitoba Envirothon, a regional competition in STEM-based environmental education, but the group running the event has changed.

The Manitoba Association of Watersheds has taken over from the Manitoba Forestry Association, which organized the Envirothon for 26 years, MAW announced Tuesday.

MAW chair Garry Wasylowski thanked the forestry association and the Envirothon steering committee for trusting MAW to take the reins of the competition.

“The focus on environmental education aligns seamlessly with the goals of many integrated watershed management plans throughout the province,” Wasylowski said in a press release posted on MAW’s website. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase the watershed districts’ commitment to environmental education and awareness through this internationally recognized competition.”

The event’s aim is to help high school students foster teamwork, problem-solving, public speaking skills and knowledge and awareness around environmental issues.

Combining team competition and hands-on activities, participating students gain knowledge and develop the skills they’ll need to address current environmental issues, the MAW website states.

The Riverbank Discovery Centre has hosted the Envirothon since 2017 and is pleased to be doing it again this year, Dean Hammond, executive director of the Riverbank, said in an email to the Sun.

“As Brandon’s largest outdoor naturalized greenspace, we love to see the enthusiasm for our environment and the knowledge sharing that takes place at this great event,” Hammond said.

The program also provides professional development opportunities for teachers, who can guide students who have an interest in natural resources through the competition while making connections along the way. Students will also gain valuable insight into future careers in natural science-related fields, the press release said.

The competition is a “perfect fit” for MAW as it seeks to build awareness of the work done by watershed districts throughout the province, said Lynda Nicol, MAW’s executive director.

“Engaging high school students early will help to increase their understanding of conservation and nature-based solutions, and hopefully help to encourage them to pursue higher education or career opportunities in environmental science,” he said.

High school students from across Manitoba can take part in the competition in teams of five. Each student will be provided extensive study resources for five different topics, including integrated watershed management, aquatic ecology, soils and land use, wildlife ecology and plants and forests.

Teams will meet at one of five regional events that will take place around the province, where they will compete in a field test and give oral presentations. The top teams from the regional events will then have a chance to compete at the provincial event, which could lead to them getting the opportunity to win a place at the National Conservation Foundation Competition, competing against other winners from Canada and the United States.

The Riverbank Discovery Centre will host a regional competition on April 22 for students in western Manitoba, and the Pinkerton Lakes Wildlife Refuge in Treherne will host its regional competition for southern Manitoba on April 17. The provincial competition will take place a the International Peace Garden from May 23 to 25.

» The Brandon Sun