Raffle to support Envirothon

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District would like to encourage people to enter the Maine Envirothon raffle for a chance to win one of three cash prizes. All proceeds from this raffle support the Maine Envirothon, a valuable, natural resource-based educational program benefiting high school students throughout Maine.

    Envirothon is a state- and nation-wide environmental competition that tests high school students’ knowledge of natural resources and current environmental issues. Three to five student teams answer questions and solve hands-on problems in five subject areas: wildlife, water/aquatics, forestry, soils and a current natural resource issue. This year’s current issue is “Sustainable, Local Agriculture/Locally Grown.” A minimum of two teams from each regional competition advances to the state finals.
    Envirothon is an academic program aligned with Maine’s Common Core Standards, and integrates math, language arts, cultural land-use history and science in unique ways. The mission of the Envirothon program is to develop knowledgeable, skilled and dedicated citizens who are willing to work towards achieving and maintaining a natural balance between the quality of life and the quality of the environment.
    Envirothon raises student awareness of local and national environmental issues and builds critical thinking and decision-making skills by solving real environmental problems. Often times teachers from local schools act as Envirothon advisors and are able to successfully incorporate Envirothon concepts and hands-on activities into their science curricula. Schools interested in forming a team may contact Piscataquis County Envirothon Coordinator Kacey Weber at katherine.weber@me.nacdnet.net or 564-2321, extension 3 or State Envirothon Coordinator Josh Platt at josh@kcswcd.org or 622-7847, extension 3.
    To purchase raffle tickets, stop by 42 Engdahl Drive in Dover-Foxcroft. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.maineenvirothon.org. There are only 500 tickets available to be sold throughout Maine. The drawing will take place on April 9. Winners need not be present at the drawing.