While most kids soaked up the sun during the summer break, Ms. Pamela Schlachtman along with five students traveled to Montana to take part of the national science competition. The five students included seniors Allen Liu and Richard Li, and former students Zoey Cosner (captain for four years) and David Silverman. The Envirothon is a problem solving environmental competition that requires an abundance of knowledge in different environmental topics and studying to take place in. Every year there is a new topic. Last year’s topic was sustainable rangeland management, achieving balance between traditional agricultural uses with non- agricultural uses on Montana rangelands. Forty- seven states and 10 provinces took place in this thrilling, nerve-wracking event.

Prior to leaving for the competition, the group of young environmentalists visited Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. A few of their stops included Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. While in Yellowstone, Ms. Schlachtman and her students did a scenario problem to help their minds for the final test.  In their downtime, they even went to a rodeo.

“My favorite part of the trip was definitely Glacier National Park, it was just so beautiful and great weather,” junior Orko Sarkar said.

The four areas that the topic encompassed were aquatics, soil, forestry and wildlife. The team members split up for everything besides the oral presentation where they worked together, combing their thoughts and knowledge into one oral presentation. The group members had the entire day to work on the given problem.

“Since many of the other competitors were at the top of the game and attended the competition multiple times, it was a little difficult for us to keep up,” Ms. Schlachtman said. “The first day composed of a trading system, which we got a lot of swag in, the second day was training, then oral, then the final test, and then awards.”

Even though the group members did amazing, some of them thought they could have changed some aspects before and throughout the trip.

“If I could do anything in specific differently, it would be the preparation in general,” Sarkar said. With this being my and my group members first time in nationals for a long time, we really didn’t know what to expect. If we go again we’ll definitely do better.”

Along with Ms. Schlachtman, Marine Biology teacher Mr. Alex Osuna also accompanied the students along the trip.

“Even if some of the kids weren’t my students, it was just so fascinating seeing how much young environmentalists knew about such captivating topics,” Mr. Osuna said. “I loved traveling with such intelligent kids.”

The trip was a successful all around trip from all the jaw dropping sight seeing to the rigorous competition.

“I think we all gained a lot of experience and oral skills, and was just a great experience in general, especially the dorms – not really,” Ms. Schlachtman said. “Of course I was nervous and excited the whole time, but that is the regular response of a supervisor/ teacher. If I am able to do it every year, I won’t even think twice.”