PORTLAND, Ore. – A team of students calling themselves “The Rogue Pack” from Logos Public Charter School in Medford won the Oregon Envirothon for the third year in a row at the 2024 statewide competition on May 3 at The Oregon Garden in Silverton. The win earned the students a spot at this year’s national NCF-Envirothon, planned for July 28-Aug. 30 in Geneva, New York.
More than 130 high school students, representing 17 schools from across the state, participated in the 2024 Oregon Envirothon, an annual environmental sciences competition the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) hosts each year.
During the competition, small teams of students completed a series of tests involving hands-on activities such as assessing water quality, identifying native wildlife species and using forestry tools to demonstrate their skills in various natural resource disciplines. These disciplines included aquatic, forest and wildlife ecology, as well as soils and land use. Students also gave oral presentations and were tested on their knowledge of this year’s current issue, “Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future,” focused on the benefits and challenges of transitioning to renewable energy sources.
In addition to an overall winner, teams were recognized with Career Development Event (CDE) awards by the Oregon Future Natural Resource Leaders (FNRL) and Oregon FFA. The “Marmot” team from Churchill High School in Eugene was selected for the FNRL-Oregon Envirothon CDE award. Sutherlin High School’s “Sutherlin FFA 1” team received the Oregon FFA Environmental and Natural Resources CDE award.
The top two teams in the competition’s oral presentation category also gave their “Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future” presentations in front of a panel of expert judges on May 3. The judges selected The Rogue Pack from Logos Public Charter School as the oral presentation winner.
OFRI is the sole sponsor and main organizer of Oregon Envirothon, in collaboration with partners in natural resources and agricultural education. These include AgWest Farm Credit, Bureau of Land Management, City of Salem, Future Natural Resource Leaders, Marion Soil and Water Conservation District, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Oregon Department of Energy, Oregon FFA, The Oregon Garden, Oregon State University’s College of Forestry and College of Science, UtilityAPI, and Western Oregon University.
The complete list of winners includes:
Overall:
- First place: “The Rogue Pack” from Logos Public Charter School
- Second place: “Rough Skinned Nerds” from West Linn High School
- Third place: “Marmot” from Churchill High School
- Fourth place: “Climate Crew” from Eagle Point High School
- Fifth place: “Sutherlin FFA 1” from Sutherlin High School
Station winners:
- Aquatic ecology: “The Rogue Pack” from Logos Public Charter School
- Soils and land use: “The Rogue Pack” from Logos Public Charter School
- Forest ecology: “The Rogue Pack” from Logos Public Charter School and “Rough Skinned Nerds” from West Linn High School (tie)
- Current issue: “The Rogue Pack” from Logos Public Charter School
- Oral presentation: “The Rogue Pack” from Logos Public Charter School
- Wildlife ecology: “Rough Skinned Nerds” from West Linn High School
The Future Natural Resource Leaders Career Development Event awards:
- First place: “Marmot” from Churchill High School
- Second place: “Dirt Bags” from Churchill High School
- Third place: “Pillbug People” from Churchill High School
- Fourth place: “Colby Lumberjacks” from Tillamook High School
The FFA Environmental Sciences Career Development Event awards:
- First place: “Sutherlin FFA 1” from Sutherlin High School
- Second place: “Colby Lumberjacks” from Tillamook High School
- Third place: “BHCS – FFA” from Brookings Harbor Christian School
- Fourth place: “Mohawk FFA” from Mohawk High School
Rookie of the Year:
- “Climate Crew” from Eagle Point High School
About the Oregon Forest Resources Institute:
The Oregon Forest Resources Institute supports the state’s forest sector and the stewardship of natural resources by advancing Oregonians’ understanding of the social, environmental and economic benefits of Oregon’s forests.