The Spruce Mountain High School Envirothon team will represent Maine at an international environmental science competition after winning the Maine State Envirothon Championship on May 29 at Viles Arboretum in Augusta.

The team, known as The Dirt Divas, won the state title after earlier winning the Southwest Regional Envirothon on April 29, earning the right to compete July 19-25 at the National Conservation Foundation International Envirothon at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi.

The winning team includes juniors Erin Chen, Emma Furka, Natasha McDonald, Aubrey Mitchell and Jaycie Paine.

The Spruce Mountain High School Envirothon program included 19 students on four teams this year. Envirothon tests students in forestry, aquatic ecology, wildlife conservation, soil science and a current issue category.

This year’s issue is “Non-point Source Pollution — It Begins at Home.” Students researched sources of nonpoint source pollution for local lakes and developed management plans to reduce threats to water quality.

“All the students on our four teams learned a great deal about protecting natural resources in all areas of the Envirothon and each team selected a local lake for their own current issue project presentation,” adviser Rob Taylor said. “Envirothon requires students to think like professional foresters, wildlife biologists, soil scientists, and aquatic ecologists. There is so much for them to learn.”

Adviser Ken Baker said the program helps students build content knowledge while developing critical thinking, problem-solving and public speaking skills.

“I am so impressed with the time and effort the students put into this academic extracurricular activity,” Baker said. “Envirothon can lead students to environmental science careers and helps students learn to be stewards of their environment no matter what they decide to do in life.”

The Dirt Divas won the state competition by 7.67 points over a team from Tri County Technical Center in Dexter. Spruce Mountain scored 371.17 points out of 500, compared with Tri County’s 363.5.

The team’s project focused on Wilson Lake in Wilton and scored 94 out of 100 points at the state championship. The students analyzed water quality data from Maine Lake Stewards and Friends of Wilson Lake, including the 2024 Watershed Survey Report.

Paine and Furka, along with Lichen Ladies team members Alissa Tompkins and Madelain Morrell and several former Spruce Mountain Envirothon students, helped gather watershed survey data with Friends of Wilson Lake and natural resource professionals in 2024.

“Participating in collecting data as part of an actual watershed survey helped the students understand the importance of identifying sources of nonpoint source pollution in a watershed and actions that can be taken to mitigate the impact of these threats to water quality,” Baker said.

Taylor said The Dirt Divas worked hard throughout the season.

“These young women really have gone above and beyond,” Taylor said. “They have studied all areas of the Envirothon intensively and really work well together as a group. A few of them are considering careers in environmental science and natural resource protection.”

Three other Spruce Mountain teams also competed at the Southwest Regional Envirothon.

The freshman team of Avery Cook, Eoghan Gochenour, Grayson Mitchell and Chase Roque, called Frigga Fritallary after an endangered Maine butterfly, placed third in wildlife at the regional competition. Their project focused on protecting the water quality of Moose Hill Pond, one of the sources of local drinking water.

Team Anasagunticook, named for the lake also known as Canton Lake, included sophomores Baylee Brown, Patrick Chen and Wyatt Steward, and seniors Sam Geissinger and Annalaya Spear. The team tied for first place in forestry at the regional competition.

Baker said the team met with members of the Lake Anasagunticook Association, reviewed water quality data and analyzed sources of soil erosion.

“Maine soil is rich in phosphorus, which is the limiting nutrient for algae and can cause algal blooms,” Baker said. “The team looked for ways to limit the amount of phosphorus entering the lake.”

The Lichen Ladies, made up of sophomore Marlee Jarvis and juniors Madelain Morrell, Alissa Tompkins, Morgan McDaniel and Sophia Foss, won the current issue category at the regional competition with a score of 90 out of 100.

Their project focused on Androscoggin Lake in Wayne, where an algal bloom late last summer affected swimming, fishing and recreation. The team reviewed information, photos and algae samples provided by Spruce Mountain Middle School teacher Charlie Brush, along with data from the 2022 Androscoggin Lake Watershed Survey and the Maine Lake Stewards online database.

Taylor and Baker thanked the Maine Association of Conservation Districts, county soil and water conservation districts, conservation professionals, lake associations, Maine Lake Stewards and others who supported the students.

The Dirt Divas have seven weeks to prepare for the international competition. Taylor said the team must study more than 700 pages of resource documents on Mississippi’s forests, plants, wildlife, soils and waters.

“Now that you have won the opportunity to compete at the international level, the work really begins!” Taylor said he told the students.

The team is seeking help with travel costs. Airfare and travel expenses are estimated at about $7,000, in addition to the $2,800 registration fee, which will be paid by the Maine Association of Conservation Districts.

Anyone interested in helping the team attend the International Envirothon may contact Taylor at [email protected] or Baker at [email protected].

Supporting Sponsor for Franklin Journal, Livermore Falls Advertiser, Rangeley Highlander and Rumford Falls Times.
Keeping communities informed by supporting local news. franklinsavings.bank