Nothing stops the Envirothon team at Woodland Park High School. State champions in the competition in March, the team represented Colorado last month at the National Conservation Foundation North American competition.

Of 43 teams, Woodland Park took ninth place in the competition in Starkville, Miss. on the campus of Mississippi State University. The competition includes four areas of study: forestry, wildlife, soil and aquatics.

“This year the overriding issue was nonpoint source pollution,” said Rose Banzhaf, who leads the Envirothon team at the high school.

Charged with developing a plan that preserves a pristine water system in a proposed development that includes a golf course, commercial area and new homes, the team of five scored 197.3 of a possible 200 points.

“They have to put together a 20-minute PowerPoint and be ready to present the next day,” Banzhaf said.

Caleb Kettler accompanied the team to Mississippi.

“By participating in this event, the students became inspired to continue to pursue those challenges, the themes, within the competition,” said Kettler, whose daughter, Sonia Kettler, was one of the participants.

The elder Kettler credits the Envirothon as well as the science teachers, including Jennifer Brocious, who teach AP Environmental Science, for the students’ interest in conservation. 

“The Envirothon is a celebration of all the things the students were inspired to do,” he said.

During the competition sponsored by the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts, Banzhaf collected comments from the team written to the sCACD. 

Student quotes

Mark Messner, 18: “Envirothon has meant a lot to me. I have gained a greater appreciation for parts of my life I used to take for granted, such as clean water. “I am so excited to represent Colorado on stage as a top 10 finalist.”

Evan Snyder, 17: “This program has been so educational and I will use what I have learned throughout my life and career. I intend to go into environmental policy. More than that, the competition was so much fun!”

Brody Lambert, 16: “As this was my first year competing in Envirothon, I know I am able to achieve higher place and compete at higher levels; all I needed was a great team around me to show me how.”

Maisy Orellana, 17: “I have thoroughly enjoyed competing at nationals and testing my skills and passion for the environment. I especially enjoyed meeting other teams from around the globe and the states.” (Orellana was part of a team that competed in the global competition in 2023 in New Brunswick, Canada.)

Sonia Kettler, 17: “Your generous donations to our Envirothon journey has given me and my teammates unique and incredible opportunities that we will never forget. I have learned so much about our nation’s different ecosystems and the opportunities in this field, I was inspired to seek out a future in conservation.”