Biodiversity in a Changing World

Envirothon is North America’s largest and fastest growing environmental education program. The program was first established in Pennsylvania, in 1979, under the name Environmental Olympics. It was sponsored by The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts – an organization which works to enhance locally led efforts that support the wise use of the state’s natural resources. The following year the name was shorted to Envio-Oylmpics and over the next several years the program continued to grow. In June 1984, the first Pennsylvania State Enviro-Olympics was held, which saw six teams compete. The following year, at the second Pennsylvania State Enviro-Oylmpics, 15 teams competed. It was not until 1988 that the program got its current name: Envirothon. Massachusetts and Ohio were the next two states to get involved, with all three states competing at the first National Envirothon in October of 1988.