Taos County schools place in conservation competition
Fourteen students on three teams from Taos and Peñasco high schools were recognized for demonstrating their knowledge of environmental and natural resource concepts at last weekend’s New Mexico Envirothon competition.
According to nmenvirothon.org, the Envirothon is a yearly “hands on environmental problem solving competition for high school students in the United States and Canada. Students complete training and testing in five natural resource categories: soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife and a current environmental issue, which changes every year.”
This year’s competition was held near Ruidoso, and saw standout performances by all three teams from Taos and Peñasco.
David Gilroy, conservation education and program associate with Taos Soil & Water Conservation District, said in a press release this week that Taos High School’s team, the “Earthletes, placed second overall and likewise second in Soils and Forestry topics. Peñasco’s Camo Renegades were close by placing 3rd in both Soils and Frestory and 4th overall.”
Since the competition overlapped with last weekend’s high winds and the growth of several major wildfires in the state, Gilroy said “students reflected on how their skills being tested in Envirothon had practical value for facing our increasing environmental challenges. Robertson’s team had to depart early to help their families evacuating from the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire ...”
Peñasco High School teacher Mercella Cordova and Taos High teacher Greg Rael led an effort to raise $750 at the competition for “funds for supplies and support for families who lost their homes from the devastating fires ...”
Staff from Taos Landfill, Aguirre Salvage, Taos Wastewater Treatment Plant, Taos Land Trust, Taos Valley Acequia Association, Peñasco Independent School District and Taos Soil & Water helped prep the teams.