Goffstown plants seeds of victory, takes first at NH Envirothon
Goffstown's two teams placed first and third overall, also winning in the Current Environmental Issues and Wildlife categories.
'The kids that won are all really, really strong students, and I think the most exciting thing for me was that they won the presentation, which is, I think, the biggest deal,' said Dr. Larry Houghton, whose Environmental Science class spawned both teams. 'These kids really did it on their own.'
The five students to make up Goffstown's winning team are seniors Kathryn Sindoni, Makenzie Oliver, Rory Daniels and Laney Garretson, as well as junior Maddy Rossi.
The Envirothon, held annually at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness, gathers teams from across the state to compete in a series of categories related to environmental conservation and preservation.
Houghton has been sending teams to the competition for the past 17 years. He said the class spent this year learning about topics that applied to the Envirothon's categories, which ultimately prepared them for their research projects.
The winning team of five students focused on the Sherburne Forest in New Boston, where they studied the surroundings and wrote a report on how the area can be managed more sustainably. The students recommended improved forest management such as walking trail maintenance, new protocols for the forest's sandpit, and removing diseased trees as part of their final submission.
Houghton said he was impressed by the students' efforts and understanding of the material, which helped them win the presentation award.
This year marked the 33rd annual Envirothon, which has been running with oversight from the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Districts.
While Goffstown has won the contest in New Hampshire three times since Houghton started coaching, the school has yet to send students to the championships. But thanks to the work of the competitors, who presented their travel request in front of the school board, the team will show off their skills at the next level.
The winning team will travel to the championships at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, from July 20-26, representing New Hampshire against more than 500 competitors hailing from the U.S., Canada, China and Singapore.
According to Margie Clark-Kevan, the New Hampshire Envirothon's program coordinator, the state Envirothon organization will cover the team's entry fees and housing, with transportation costs covered through donations and funding designated for the trip.
The championship event's topic, titled 'Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change,' is the same as it was at the state competition. But this time around, the team will adapt their project and continue researching to expand their original presentation.
Houghton said he is excited to see his students compete in July and to demonstrate the importance of environmental education.
Looking ahead, he said he hopes more students and schools will gain interest in the Envirothon and similar educational opportunities.
'I wish that we could just keep trying to get more and more schools involved in the Envirothon. I think it's such a great opportunity, and obviously the environment is something that I care deeply about, so the more students we can get involved, the better,' Houghton said.
egoncalves@unionleader.com
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