Education at St. Mary's Soil Conservation District

Science Fair

The 49th annual St. Mary's County Science and Engineering Fair will be held at Great Mills High School on January 31, 2009. The District participates each year by presenting a special merit award in each of the junior and senior categories for the project that best demonstrates soil conservation and water quality goals and objectives.

The winners received certificates and a check for fifty dollars. Congratulations to both of our winners for their exceptional projects.

St. Mary's County Science and Engineering Fair Website

Matthew Miller
Junior Division Winner 2009
Project: Best Natural Fibers
to Protect the Bay
Father Andrew White

Shefali Shah
Senior Division Winner 2009
Project: The Big, The Bad, and
The Small, Part II
Great Mills High School

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Poster Contest

The 2009 theme for the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts Poster Contest is "Dig It! The Secrets of Soil". Participants must develop a poster that is between 8^1/2 "x 11" and 22" x 28" depicting their interpretation of the theme. Entries are divided into five (5) classes and are judged on the following criteria: conservation message (adherence to theme), visual effectiveness, originality, and universal appeal. All poster submissions must have a completed entry form attached to the back. Poster contest guidelines(pdf) and the entry form(pdf) are mailed to the art teachers in each public and parochial school.

Eligible entries are judged locally in May. Winners will receive ribbons and cash awards. First place winners will be entered in the state contest held during the MASCD annual meeting in July.

2009 St. Mary's County Winners

4th – 6th Grade
1st Place - Michael Sachs, Leonardtown Elementary
2nd Place - Tanner Boone, Leonardtown Elementary
3rd Place - Colin Head, Leonardtown Elementary

10th – 12th Grade
1st Place - Stewart Carter, Great Mills High School
2nd Place - Elizabeth Long, Great Mills High School
3rd Place - Myriah Zelinsky, Great Mills High School

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Coloring Contest

Each year the District participates in the Maryland Association
of Soil Conservation Districts coloring contest. The contest is
open to all students in grades kindergarten through 5. The District
sends coloring sheets to every public and parochial school in the
county around the beginning of March each year. Completed sheet
s must be returned to the District by the established deadline date
to be judged locally.

The contest is divided into three (3) classes; Class A (K-1), Class B (2-3), and Class C (4-5). First , second, and third place ribbons and cash are awarded in each class. The first place winners go on to compete against other winners from around the state at our summer association meeting.

St. Mary's 2009 Winners

KINDERGARTEN – 1st Grade
1st Place - Kayla Goyette, Greenview Knolls Elementary
2nd Place - Sara McCullough, Mechanicsville Elementary
3rd Place - Danielle Bouchard, Little Flower School

2nd – 3rd Grade
1st Place - Sabrina Lin, Greenview Knolls Elementary
2nd Place - Brenda Rojas, Green Holly Elementary
3rd Place - Jasmine Berry, Greenview Knolls Elementary

4th – 5th Grade
1st Place - Camaron Nelms, Greenview Knoll Elementary
2nd Place - Hailey Trusty, Green Holly Elementary
3rd Place - Sarah Schroeder, Town Creek Elementary

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Envirothon

The Envirothon is a problem solving natural resource competition for high school student teams. In St. Mary's County, the Envirothon is sponsored by the District with financial support coming from many local businesses, organizations, and individuals. The Envirothon is open to all schools, organized clubs, and home schoolers in grades 9-12.

Five (5) member teams of students are tested on their knowledge in five (5) natural resource areas; aguatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and a current natural resource issue. Training is provided year round starting with the school year in September and culminates with the testing in April. The training is provided by natural resource professionals using as much hands-on demonstration as the topic will allow.

Individual awards are given to each member of the team that wins each subject area, and group awards are presented to the top three (3) high scoring teams. The first place winner goes on to represent St. Mary's County at the State Competition.

For more information on the Envirothon, click the envirothon logo below or contact Bruce Young or Haley Carter.

Click logo for
envirothon brochure (pdf)

2010 Resources
2010 Learning Objectives
2010 Current Maryland Resources
(coming soon)

Envirothon Calendar of Events
   - Spring Training - March 25, 2010, Malcolm Morris Farm in Callaway
   - County Competition - April 29, 2010, Malcolm Morris Farm in Callaway
   - State Competition - William Schmidt Center, Prince George's Co., June 15-17, 2010
   - Canon International Competition - University of California - Merced, August 1-7, 2010

2009 Sponsors
2009 County Competition Score Sheet

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