Jay-area high school’s Envirothon team competes internationally

Spruce Mountain High School’s Envirothon team, from left, are Leah Burgess, Abrahm Geissinger, Owen Schwab, Dan Wilson and Brenden Veilleux. Submitted photo

The Spruce Mountain High School Envirothon Team placed 20th overall at the 2022 National Conservation Foundation International Envirothon, which was held July 23-30 at Miami of Ohio University in Oxford, Ohio.

The Spruce Mountain team representing was sixth in Aquatic Ecology, 11th in Soil Science, 17th in Wildlife Management, 20th in Forestry, 34th in the Waste to Resources Current Issue Test, and 21st in the Current Issue Oral Presentation, according to a news release from the Kennebec Soil & Water Conservation District.

Spruce Mountain team members participating included sophomore Leah Burgess, junior Abrahm Geissinger, junior Owen Schwab, sophomore Brenden Veilleux, and junior Dan Wilson. The team is advised by Spruce Mountain High teachers Ken Baker and Rob Taylor. Ann Schwab attended the event as the female chaperone.

The team won the Maine Envirothon Championship on June 3 at the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine Outdoor Education Center in Augusta.

This was the 12th time Taylor’s team has won the Maine Envirothon and gone on to compete internationally.

“The level of environmental knowledge and skill I saw during the week from all the teams was amazing, especially when one considers the challenges schools and students have had to deal with for the last two and half years. The students in attendance were world class and knew their stuff. I was really pleased with our team,” said Taylor.

The team worked hard to prepare for the international event from the time they won the Maine Envirothon in June. The team met at least twice per week for four, hour sessions in June and July, as well as spending numerous hours studying on their own. Burgess made online flashcards using a website called Quizlet to study from, and the team met with various professionals from Maine prior to the competitions.

Additionally, the team also practiced for the Current Issue Problem Scenario by working with Baker and Taylor to solve a practice problem scenario the advisors had developed.