Daily Tomorrow-An Eco-blog about green living, health and the environment

Flagstaff Hosts 2008 Environthon Next Week

by Gabrielle on July 31st, 2008

My goodness, I love Flagstaff. The location, the people, the brewery, the closeness to everything Grand.

Here’s another reason. The Arizona Republic reports:

More than 265 teenagers from 44 U.S. states and nine Canadian provinces will meet at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff from Monday to Aug. 3 to participate as finalists in North America’s largest high-school environmental-education competition: the 2008 Canon Envirothon.

Teams will be tested on knowledge of soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and a current environmental issue. This year’s current-issue topic for the competition is “Recreational Impacts on Natural Resources.” Students will analyze long-term and short-term environmental, social and economic factors relative to recreational impacts upon natural resources and their management.

Participants will compete for a share of more than $125,000 in educational scholarships and Canon products. The competition is organized by the National Association of Conservation Districts in the U.S., the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Wow. That does not sound like an easy competition!

Recreational impact on natural resources is an important subject to me and an issue that the National Park Service grapples with constantly. Does rock climbing harm Devil’s Tower? Do power boats disrupt wildlife at Voyageurs National Park or the Everglades National Park? Is snowmobiling in Yellowstone really that big of a deal?

Looking at the few comments readers left on the Arizona Republic article, some folks think no, not really. One commenter suggests:

“Recreational Impacts on Natural Resources.” Translation: If you kiddies want any of our grant money, you must submit to our global warming eco-whacko brainwashing and stop having any kind of recreational fun. No hunting, fishing, offroading, four wheeling, hiking, biking, horseback riding. . No fun allowed in the future. Get it? You want fun? Keep it in your house.

What do you think?

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POSTED IN: CO2 emissions, Climate Change, Eco Travel, Environmental News, Fuel & Energy, Green Events, Green Kids, Natural Resources, Policy, Wildlife