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Envirothon Rules & Regulations

General Rules

  1. Students in grades 9-12 are eligible to compete. Student teams may be formed from a high school, 4-H club, FFA club, or any other sanctioned local, regional, state, or nationally recognized club that sponsors youth in grades 9-12.
  2. A registration fee of $500.00 will be assessed to each Soil Conservation District, the City of Baltimore, or any additional team that attends the Maryland Envirothon. A first year attending team will be granted a waiver. The registration fee will be used toward expenses of the Maryland Envirothon manual and subsequent yearly updates, and the Maryland Envirothon competition. The fee is non-refundable if a team is unable to participate or cancels within one month of the competition.
  3. Each Soil Conservation District and the City of Baltimore is welcome to send one winning team to the Maryland Envirothon. The District of Columbia (or any other additional team) is also invited to send a team to the Maryland competition but will be responsible for reimbursement to the Maryland Envirothon for room and meal costs. However, the District of Columbia team will not compete against the Maryland teams for the right to represent Maryland at the National Envirothon.
  4. Each team will consist of five members and one alternate. Teams may be allowed to bring an additional alternate provided there is adequate room at the hosting facility. Teams will be responsible for additional costs for this person. The alternate(s) from each team will form a team(s) of their own at the Maryland Envirothon competition so that they may fully participate at the event. This will insure that the alternate is up to speed if their team wins the competition and she/he is needed to fill in for a team member who can not travel to the National Envirothon.
  5. Once County Envirothon competitions have taken place and winners identified, the teams representing their respective counties are prohibited from visiting the site of the Maryland Envirothon competition.
  6. Illegal drugs are not permitted. Any member of a team under 21 years of age using tobacco against State Law, and/or any team member that has possession of illegal drugs, alcohol, or weapons (including but not limited to: fire arms, pocket knives, hunting knives, leatherman/all purpose tools, and/or self protection sprays) will cause disqualification of the entire team from the competition.
  7. The Maryland Envirothon Committee requires a completed and signed health form and is to be informed of all participants taking prescription drugs and any medical condition including medication administered by an inhaler or mechanical device, special diets, allergies, and special learning and/or training disabilities. Upon such notification, the Maryland Envirothon Committee will make any reasonable accommodations within their limits. All medications must be labeled with the name of the medication, name of the patient, name of the physician, date and directions (e.g. specific dose for administration). Prescription medication must be labeled by a registered pharmacist unless ordered from a pharmaceutical company. Safe refrigeration will be supplied by the committee if needed.
  8. If there are both male and female members on a team, a male and female advisor should accompany the team to the Maryland Envirothon. A District employee can serve as an advisor.
  9. Advisors will be responsible to ensure that teams display proper conduct and respect during the competition and at the host facility. In most host facilities, overseeing final clean-up of rooms by the teams is also the responsibility of the advisor.
  10. At least one representative from a sponsoring organization must accompany team and be on site at all times.
  11. Because of liability, team members and advisors MUST honor specific rules put forward by the host facility. These rules will be spelled out in the first orientation and normally require such actions as whether the advisors and students remain on site, areas that are off limits, whether or not swimming/boating is allowed, etc. Details of these rules will be provided in writing to each advisor at that time. Failure to follow these rules can lead to legal problems if there is an accident.
  12. Meals and housing for the participating teams and advisors will be the responsibility of the Maryland Envirothon Program.
  13. Transportation and meals in route to the Maryland Envirothon will be the responsibility of participating Soil Conservation District.
  14. Any team or team member that breaks any rules will cause disqualification of the entire team.

Competition Rules

  1. The competition will be conducted by the Maryland Envirothon Planning Committee which is made up of Conservation District personnel and cooperating resource agencies and/or independent environmental organization personnel.
  2. The Maryland Envirothon competition will consist of two (2) parts: 1) an oral presentation of 8-10 minutes and 2) the test scores from each of the five resource areas. Teams will be required to participate in the presentation portion, which will be a 6th test station at the Maryland Envirothon, in order to be eligible to win 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place, and the right to represent Maryland at the National Envirothon. The presentation scores will be factored into the overall cumulative score determining the Maryland Envirothon winner. Overall scores will be determined at equal 1/6th value for each of the 5 resource stations and the oral presentation.
  3. Attire: For the competition- all team members must wear Maryland Envirothon t-shirts and no county identification. Displaying any county identification is a grievable action by other teams.
  4. During the Envirothon competition, advisors, District personnel and parents are welcome to travel from station to station and observe the event. However, they should make every effort to stay apart from their own team by traveling with a team from another county or staying well back from the station. Aiding their own team or the perception of aiding is a grievable action by another team.
  5. Teams will be issued a clipboard at the beginning of the competition. At each station they will be given a test to complete. All materials/guides/keys/equipment and other reference materials needed to complete the test will be available at the station. Teams are not allowed to carry any other materials/equipment etc. with them to the competition.
  6. The winning team that will represent Maryland at the National Envirothon will be the team with the highest cumulative total points. In case of a tie in scores between two or more teams: the team with the highest score in the Environmental Issue area will take the lead. If this also results in a tie score, then the team with the highest score in Soils will take the lead. Beyond these tie breakers, a winner will be determined by the highest score in the following order: Aquatics, Forestry, and Wildlife.
  7. Should a finding or awarding of points be disputed by an advisor, the Envirothon Committee has set up an independent jury to hear the dispute and make a ruling. The decision of this jury will be final. Any disputes or concerns are to be formally presented in writing within one hour of the end of the competition, duly signed by the advisor or their representative (or as explained by the Envirothon Committee prior to the competition).

Other

  1. An evaluation form will be developed by the Maryland Envirothon Planning Committee. Cooperating agencies, advisors and participants involved in the competition will be requested to complete and evaluation of the competition following the competition. Participants are encouraged to aid the Planning Committee in making the Envirothon a strong, dynamic learning experience for everybody with their suggestions.
  2. Rules and regulations of the Maryland Envirothon are subject to change. Any and all changes will be explained in advance to all teams and advisors.

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