Thursday, May 12th marked the second time Brockton High SchooL/Wildlands Trust participated in the annual Massachusetts Envirothon Competition. The team of nine Brockton High School students had the chance to compete in the state-wide competition held at the beautiful Hopkinton State Park this year. The team has worked hard since the beginning of the school year, learning the science and social issues behind four key areas of natural resource conservation: soils, water, wildlife, and forestry.
Our team on competition day at Hopkinton State Park
All our students had a great time preparing the hands-on skills necessary for each section, and our Soils sub-team placed 2nd in the Soils Ecostation category!
Our award winning (2d place) soils sub-team in the pits determining soil qualities
Additionally, every year has a unique Current Issue Topic, around which the students base their community research. This year’s topic was “Invasive Species Management” and the students created a 3-tiered Action Plan. First, they sent out a survey to local environmental professionals to assess the issue of invasive species, which got back almost 70 responses in just two weeks! Second, they decided to gain hands-on, personal experience by helping to remove a truck-load of invasive Buckthorn and Honeysuckle from Wildlands Trust’s Brockton Audubon Preserve. Third, they filmed their experience and created a PSA video to share with BHS’s 4,000+ students and on Brockton Public Access Television to educate the public about the problem of invasive species. Through these efforts, the team earned both the Community Research Award and the Community Action Award and will have letters sent on their behalf detailing their accomplishments to the Brockton Superintendent of Schools, local newspapers and media outlets, and their district’s state representatives.
Congratulations to our students! We are so proud of all their hard work and dedication!
Students present their findings about Invasive Species
Discussing a potential invasives with a local gardener
We would like to thank the Brockton Public Schools Transportation Department for providing transportation to the Envirothon Workshops throughout the year and the Competition.