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The 33rd annual Chautauqua County Envirothon was held April 28 at Boy Scouts of America's Camp Merz located in Mayville.
A brisk, rainy day did not stop the 11 schools, comprising 20 teams, from participating in the event. Students spent the day answering environmentally-based questions focused around the core areas of wildlife, forestry, soils, aquatics and a current issue. The Envirothon, an environmental competition for students in grades nine to 12, held its first competition in New York in the spring of 1979. Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District hosted its first Envirothon for the County in 1990. This program continues to be a wonderful opportunity for students to get out of the classroom and develop skills in nature.
The 2023 overall winner placings are as follows: Chautauqua Lake Team II in first place, Chautauqua Lake Team I in second, and Frewsburg Team I in third. The winning team was coached by Mary Jantzi and Jeff Angeletti. The winning team member names are Devin Kelsey, Lincoln Smith, Jonah Reyda, Dayne Jantze, and Chris Lukasiak. Truly though, everyone ended up winners. All competing teams, coaches and volunteers received locally printed t-shirts to commemorate this event.
Also, awards will be given for high scores in the individual categories. Forestville scored first in the soils category. Pine Valley was first in wildlife and first in forestry. Southwestern placed first in the aquatics category, and Clymer placed first in current issue. The tests are created by professionals and prove to be quite difficult. Achieving first place in an individual category is no small feat!
Chautauqua Lake Team II traveled to Hobart and William Smiths Colleges May 24 and 25 to represent Chautauqua County in the New York State Envirothon.
The Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District would like to give a special thanks to Cattaraugus County Bank, County Line Stone Co., Inc, Knight Vineyards LLC, Rock Hill Engineering LLC, W.P. Jackway Post 6764 V.F.W, Lakewood Rod & Gun Club, Lictus Keystone Inc., Maple Springs Tree Service LLC, Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, Ripley Rod & Gun Club, Inc., Mr. Robert Vanevery, Mr. Ron Cunningham, Tops Friendly Market of Dunkirk, Westfield Fish & Game Club, Inc., WNY Trout Unlimited, American Legion Post 434, Chautauqua County Federation of Sportsmen's, Chautauqua County Pomona Grange, Chautauqua Patrons Insurance Company, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, Inc., Mr. Donald Harrington, Double A Vineyards, Ecostrategies Civil Engineering PLLC, Fredonia Beaver Club, Inc., and Gernatt Asphalt Products, Inc. Thank you to all businesses who donated to this cause, without your support this event could not continue!