Check out the Teacher Resource Guide for Environmental and Natural Resources

The 2012 Event will be held June 7

Participation Guide = guidelines, rules, and score cards for the event

Contest elements:

1. Objective Written Exam (examples below)

2. Identification of Material (see list in guide)

3. Individual Practicums

   • Environmental Analysis (every year)

   • Water Analysis (even years)

   • Soil Nutrient Test (odd years)

   • GPS Location (every year starting 2013)

2012 Individual Practicums

1. Environmental Analysis

2. Water Analysis

Environmental Analysis - Scorecard and scoring guidelines

Students will address the following five aspects:

1. Living Organisms - students will identify and list as many living organisms (both native and invader) as they can find within the marked boundaries of the site. Additional species may be artificially introduced as mounted or preserved specimens.

   • Many of you asked for some resources for local plants and animals of the Palouse Region of northern Idaho. Below are a few links:

     • Palouse Plants Tutorial: Marion Ownbey Herbarium (WSU)

     • Palouse Prairie Foundation

     • Idaho Native Plant Society

2. Non-living components (shelter, nutrients) – students will inventory resources such as water, shelter, etc. upon which resident species depend for survival.

3. Food Web - students will define relationships among the plants and animal species that are found or introduced in the study area.

4. Ecological Succession - students will identify the stages of succession of various grasses, shrubs and trees. They will also identify causes of changes in succession patterns.

5. Situation Analysis - students will determine whether a healthy balance exists between the environment and the native species that depend upon it. They will also check remediation practices where needed.

Water Quality Analysis - Scorecard, guidelines, and background material

Written Exam examples from previous years

• 2011 (KEY)
• 2010 (KEY)
• 2009 (KEY)
• 2008 (KEY)
• 2007 (KEY)
• 2006 (KEY)

• NOTE - GPS units should be set to read latitude and longitude and the datum set to NAD83. Students can use their own GPS units or one will be provided. Locations will be given in Degrees, Minutes, Seconds. For example: 46° 43’ 52.9” N and 117° 00’ 52.6” W. Participants must know how to read longitude and latitude numbers.

• Participants will receive a map with points of interest. The score sheet will list 10 locations in longitude and latitude.

• Using the map and satellite locations, participants must match up the flagged points in the field with the coordinates listed on their score card (in latitude and longitude). Each flagged point will be numbered and students will record the number next to the corresponding coordinates on the score card. Participants will continue examining flagged points until the appropriate point number for each location on the score card is determined. Note – There will be several "dummy" flags points that will not correspond to those listed on the score card.

Further Practice:

• Scenario Handout
• Soil Analysis Results
• Fertilizer Guide
• Scenario Key