Northeastern Illinois Envirothon
Each spring, teams of 5 high school students prepare with a teacher/coach to compete in the areas of aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and a current issue in natural resources. Regional winners advance to the state and then the national competition. The Northeastern Illinois Envirothon is organized by local soil and water conservation districts and The Conservation Foundation. This competition is held over two days in early spring. One competition is held for high schools in Cook, DuPage, Kane, and Will counties. Another competition is held for high schools in Boone, DeKalb, Lake, McHenry and Winnebago counties.
Fostering Environmentally Conscious, Decision Making Young Adults
Fostering Environmentally Conscious, Decision Making Young Adults
Envirothon 2025 - Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at Morton Arboretum
The Lane Tech team will advance to the state competition in Monticello, Illinois on May 5th & 6th.
State winners will go head-to-head in Alberta, Canada at nationals this summer, with the winning team receiving scholarships.
The 2025 Northeastern Illinois Envirothon was coordinated by soil and water conservation districts from Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will and Winnebago counties. This year’s sponsors included the Morton Arboretum, DeKalb County Pheasants Forever, Kane County, Hey and Associates, Inc., Blink Tees, Sporty’s Restaurant & Catering and the Illinois Arborist Association.
State winners will go head-to-head in Alberta, Canada at nationals this summer, with the winning team receiving scholarships.
The 2025 Northeastern Illinois Envirothon was coordinated by soil and water conservation districts from Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will and Winnebago counties. This year’s sponsors included the Morton Arboretum, DeKalb County Pheasants Forever, Kane County, Hey and Associates, Inc., Blink Tees, Sporty’s Restaurant & Catering and the Illinois Arborist Association.
What a whirlwind of 2 days! For the 2025 Northeastern Illinois Envirothon competition, 145+ students on 29 teams from 19 Northeastern Illinois high schools competed on the topics of aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and this year's current issue: "Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change". The Morton Arboretum Thornhill Center was our gracious host site.
Congratulations to the Northeastern Regional winner Lane Tech! They persevered in a first ever tie-breaker in this region. This annual competitive, problem-solving event is coordinated by soil and water conservation districts nationwide, challenging students in areas of environmental concern though written and laboratory tests, as well as oral presentation.
The objectives are threefold:
· to test environmental knowledge and understanding of natural resource issues of today and into the future
· to cultivate future careers in environmental fields
· to hone team building and enhance communications skills
Adlai Stevenson High School Team 1 took second place overall, Glenbard West High School took overall third.
Northeastern Illinois Regional county winners are: Batavia High School (Kane), Glenbard West High School (DuPage), DeKalb High School (DeKalb), Lane Tech High School (Cook), Adlai Stevenson High School Team 1 (Lake), Cary-Grove High School Team 2 (McHenry), Belvidere High School (Boone), Plainfield South High School (Will) and Durand High School (Winnebago).
This year, all our Regional counties fielded teams! We are proud of all of the students and appreciate your participation in this wonderful event.
Congratulations to the Northeastern Regional winner Lane Tech! They persevered in a first ever tie-breaker in this region. This annual competitive, problem-solving event is coordinated by soil and water conservation districts nationwide, challenging students in areas of environmental concern though written and laboratory tests, as well as oral presentation.
The objectives are threefold:
· to test environmental knowledge and understanding of natural resource issues of today and into the future
· to cultivate future careers in environmental fields
· to hone team building and enhance communications skills
Adlai Stevenson High School Team 1 took second place overall, Glenbard West High School took overall third.
Northeastern Illinois Regional county winners are: Batavia High School (Kane), Glenbard West High School (DuPage), DeKalb High School (DeKalb), Lane Tech High School (Cook), Adlai Stevenson High School Team 1 (Lake), Cary-Grove High School Team 2 (McHenry), Belvidere High School (Boone), Plainfield South High School (Will) and Durand High School (Winnebago).
This year, all our Regional counties fielded teams! We are proud of all of the students and appreciate your participation in this wonderful event.
Northeastern Illinois Envirothon
Day One - above
Day Two - right
Elmwood Park High School
Our North Cook County participant for 2025
Lane Tech High School
2025 Winner of Cook County – 1st Place
Overall Northeastern Illinois Envirothon Winner – 1st Place
Overall Northeastern Illinois Envirothon Winner – 1st Place
Team Information 2025 - watch for the 2026 info
Students compete as a team consisting of five individuals (plus 1 alternate) from the same high school or organization. Teams are tested in five subject areas through written tests, laboratory tests, and an oral presentation.
2025 Northeastern IL Envirothon Brochure
2025 Northeastern IL Envirothon Registration Materials
Registration Deadline was Friday, December 1, 2024
2025 Northeastern IL Envirothon Brochure
2025 Northeastern IL Envirothon Registration Materials
Registration Deadline was Friday, December 1, 2024
Sponsorship Information
Every contribution provides the tools necessary to give teams of high school students the technical and public speaking skills to become the confident thinkers who will keep conservation at the fore in all aspects of their lives.
Envirothon 2025 Sponsorship Packet
Envirothon 2025 Sponsorship Packet
Envirothon
Envirothon is an exciting, fun way for high school students to learn about the environment. It combines in-class curriculum with hands-on field experiences, while demonstrating the role people have in important environmental issues, such as forestry and wildlife management, water quality, and soil erosion. Teams use group oriented problem-solving skills and hands-on field experience while completing the 5 outdoor labs and testing. At each testing station, teams first listen to a presentation by a professional in that field, and then complete a lab and written test. Teams are tested on their knowledge in Aquatics, Forestry, Soils, Wildlife and a current environmental issue that changes each year. Regional competitions are held annually throughout Illinois.
Our regional event, the Northeastern Illinois Envirothon, serves the counties of Cook, DuPage, Lake, Winnebago, McHenry, Boone, DeKalb, Kane and Will. This natural resource education program is organized by the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts through their regional Land Use Council; LUC 16. Due to population size and geographic space, this competition is further divided into two regional events; north and south. The overall winner of both events continues on to the Illinois Envirothon competition in the spring.
The winning Illinois Envirothon team represents our state at the Canon Envirothon. Gathering teams from across the US and Canada, this international event is the largest environmental competition in North America. At this event teams stand to win $30,000 in scholarships and prizes.
Our regional event, the Northeastern Illinois Envirothon, serves the counties of Cook, DuPage, Lake, Winnebago, McHenry, Boone, DeKalb, Kane and Will. This natural resource education program is organized by the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts through their regional Land Use Council; LUC 16. Due to population size and geographic space, this competition is further divided into two regional events; north and south. The overall winner of both events continues on to the Illinois Envirothon competition in the spring.
The winning Illinois Envirothon team represents our state at the Canon Envirothon. Gathering teams from across the US and Canada, this international event is the largest environmental competition in North America. At this event teams stand to win $30,000 in scholarships and prizes.