Our country has seen more than its fair share of environmental disasters in the last decade. From the recent oil spill in the Gulf to significant biodiversity loss, from overfishing to coal spills, the public's outrage at private companies' recklessness and the government's inefficient policies is often confounded with a sense of helplessness. As images of animals covered with oil tug at our heartstrings, we are once again reminded that we are each stakeholders in an interconnected ecosystem and need to turn our consternation into action.
We are further reminded that we must always be empowering tomorrow's business and environmental leaders, who are located in today's high schools, with the very best environmental tools and education possible. Yet environmental science is not a standard class offering in a majority of high schools around the country today. An essential component to transforming business attitudes and preventing environmental disasters in the future is to educate and prepare our children to become better stewards of planet earth, and as the age-old saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
For over a decade, the annual Canon Envirothon competition has been the largest environmental education competition for high school students in North America. In partnership with the National Association of Conservation Districts, U.S. Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the National Conservation Foundation, this annual scholarship competition involves more than 500,000 students across North America each year. From Aug. 1 to 6, California State University, Fresno will play host to champion teams representing 45 states and eight Canadian provinces. Participants will be tested on four universal categories, including soils/land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife and a current environmental issue. The 2010 theme is "Protection of Groundwater Through Urban, Agricultural and Environmental Planning." National Ground Water Association is a sponsor this year to draw attention to water resource conservation, pollution prevention and groundwater protection as critical issues.
The shift from a bystander mentality to stakeholder mentality needs to happen early in education through ongoing learning and effective mentoring. The Envirothon Program is a year-long process that starts locally in late autumn, gains momentum through statewide competitions and culminates in a North American competition in late summer. With little down time throughout the four seasons, team coaches combine in-classroom teaching and field trips to parks, zoos and other natural resources sites to train participants. Students absorb a tremendous amount of material, brush up on their public speaking skills, learn to work collaboratively and have a great deal of outdoor fun in the meantime.
In November 2009, President Obama launched the "Educate to Innovate" campaign to increase STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) literacy and create educational opportunities for females and minorities. The success of this national priority depends on collaboration among federal, public and private institutions. At a difficult time when teachers are losing jobs and core curriculums are stripped to the bare minimum, non-profit education organizations like the Canon Envirothon are more important than ever. We actively expand education opportunities, get young people thinking critically about urgent issues and help them develop a stakeholder mentality to take into their subsequent studies or professions.
Many past Envirothon winners have found their passion through the competition and gone on to work for important environmental organizations, including the National Association of Conservation Districts, U.S. Forest Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Even more alumni have chosen to select a broad spectrum of college majors and career paths. Our end goal is to empower a diverse community of environmentally conscious young ambassadors who may one day become policymakers, business decision makers and environmental leaders. Promoting environmental education in our schools is closely connected to students' attitudes, values and behaviors in their daily interaction with the environment and their level of concern as they mature. As a society, we simply cannot afford to neglect this key component in molding the next generation's mindset. Thankfully, the enthusiasm I have seen in my nine years as executive director makes me optimistic that we will be able to prevent future environmental devastations and ingrain a sense of respect for the planet by inspiring tomorrow's leaders.