For the 2024 Wisconsin (WI) Envirothon — held on April 19 — Nick Hylla, MREA executive director, and Leon Dulak, MREA site manager, served as judges.  

The WI Envirothon is a one-day event where high school and middle school students, in teams of five, come together to compete in environmental science challenges. Designed by natural resource professionals and educators, the challenges — categorized into Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Soils & Land Use, and Wildlife — are hands on, outdoor field exams.

Apart from the exams, students also researched and prepared presentations on current environmental issues that local conservation professionals are facing in WI. This year’s topic was Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future and allowed students to practice and develop skills outside the classroom while making them environmentally aware of the world around them. 

“Seeing high school and even middle school aged students take on questions and activities that are in many ways college level was quite inspiring. The organization and level of preparedness of the student competitors was a reflection of the event itself. The amount of detail and thought put into the day allowed me to easily do my task and judge the presentations without distraction,” Dulak said.

“It was very interesting seeing the varied responses to the difficult question of how a community can transition away from fossil fuel-based energy production,” he continued. “I left with a sense that many of the students care about where their power is produced and how it affects the environment.”