Stillwater, Oklahoma | At the beautiful Oklahoma State University botanic gardens in Stillwater, Oklahoma, high school students from across the state met for the State Envirothon on April 17, 2026. Creek County 4-H took home the championship and will compete at the International Envirothon in Starkville, Mississippi, this July. Members of the Creek County 4-H team include: Charlotte Sipes, Javan Greco, Micah Greco, Bendan Weihl, and Hadassah Greco.
Envirothon is a long-standing opportunity for high school students to combine learning with outdoor activities, encouraging students to become environmentally aware, action-driven adults, while exposing them to career opportunities to consider post-graduation. Teams of five complete written exams, field exercises, and problem-solving challenges to showcase their expertise in aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, and wildlife, while also completing an action project related to a current environmental issue.
Students are given the chance to interact with resource professionals who apply the knowledge they gained in high school and college every day in their careers. The Envirothon shows students the link between academics and the conservation world. Oklahoma’s state competition is hosted by Oklahoma State University’s Honors College and is supported by several partner organizations, including OSU Extension, Oklahoma Forestry Services, WildCare Oklahoma, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and its Blue Thumb program.
“We like to joke that it’s kind of a condensed version of an undergraduate degree,” said Jack Hilgert, Statewide Environmental Education Coordinator with the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. “Whether they go into a natural resource profession or not, these students will ultimately be future citizens, landowners, and stakeholders,” said Hilgert. “Increasing their understanding of the complexities involved with conserving our state’s natural resources will help Oklahomans implement resilient resource management practices in the future.”
Each year, 500 high school students, volunteers and guests meet for the 6-day international event, with students receiving extensive on-site training leading up to and during the competition. This year’s issue is Non-Point Source Pollution: It begins at home! This year, Rebecca Bond (Blue Thumb Program Director) and Jason Ramming (Monitoring Coordinator) from the Oklahoma Conservation Commission will attend the competition and offer insights to students as subject-matter experts in Non-Point Source Pollution.
“Envirothon is a wonderful expression of how academic learning can combine with teamwork, stewardship practices, and practical applications of science in real-world scenarios to help students think critically and work together to solve difficult issues,” said Nicole Colston, Honors Teaching Assistant Professor & Oklahoma Envirothon Coordinator. “Programs like Envirothon inspire the next generation of environmental leaders, equipping students with the knowledge and passion they need to make a lasting, positive impact on their communities and the world.”
“We are very proud of Creek County 4-H and the excellence they portrayed at the state competition,” said Lisa Knauf-Owen, Oklahoma Conservation Commission Assistant Director and Oral Presentation Judge at the Oklahoma State Envirothon. “Their dedication and achievement set a powerful example for youth across Oklahoma, and we are excited to see them represent our state on the international stage.”
Follow the team and their upcoming travels on Facebook.
Teachers and adults interested in starting an Envirothon team at their school or in their community can learn more here: Envirothon | Oklahoma State University
High schools interested in participating in the program and starting a team are invited to the free field trips hosted this fall on the following dates:
October 21 – Arcadia Conservation Education Area, Edmond
October 28 – Chandler Park, Tulsa
November 4 – Lake McMurtry, Stillwater
To view more photos from the state competition this past April, please visit: Envirothon April 2026 – Oklahoma Conservation Commission
