Hidden Pond Nature Center began defense of its state Envirothon title on Wednesday, March 30 by advancing to round two. The annual Envirothon is North America’s largest environmental education competition for high school students. Some 500,000 people from 4,000 public and private high schools across North America participate annually.
Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale hosted the squad from Hidden Pond and teams from Langley, Thomas Jefferson, George Marshall, Fairfax and Madison High Schools in the first-round competition. Thomas Jefferson placed first and Hidden Pond second. The top two teams advance to Area competition on April 20 at Bull Run Regional Park. Area winners advance to the state final on May 15-16 in Harrisonburg. State and provincial winners compete in the North American championship, which will be held in July at Peterborough, Ontario.
The Virginia Dominion Envirothon is sponsored by Virginia’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Students involved in the competition have already participated in several trainings presented by science, park and government professionals in fields relating to environmental sciences.
Hidden Pond has placed in the top two four times in the past five years at the Virginia state championship, winning the title in 2013 and 2015. HPNC placed 9th out of 52 teams in the North America finals last year.
This year’s Hidden Pond roster:
- John Abalos-Green- Burke, Va., Freshman at Lake Braddock HS
- Aaron Abalos-Green- Burke, Va., Freshman at Lake Braddock HS
- Noah Goldfarb- Burke, Va., Freshman at Robinson HS
- Annabella Massimino- Springfield, Va., Junior at West Springfield HS
- Stuart Murdoch- Springfield, Va., Junior at West Springfield HS
- Jennifer Ochs- Springfield, Va., Freshman at Lake Braddock HS
- Sofia O’Connor- Springfield, Va. , Sophomore at West Springfield HS