Housatonic students excel at Envirothon in Old Lyme

FALLS VILLAGE — Student teams from Housatonic Valley Regional High School took first and second place in the Connecticut Envirothon at Rocky Neck State Park in Old Lyme on Thursday, May 19.The Agriscience team from Housatonic took first place, with top honors in the aquatics, forestry and wildlife categories. Team members include seniors Ryan Long and Emily Studer, junior Emma Okell and sophomores Becket Harney and Brian Saccardi.The Housatonic team placed second in the statewide competition, distinguishing themselves in the soils/land use and current issue/oral presentation stations of the event. Team members, all sophomores, included Matt Matsudaira, Jordan Long, Monica Chin, Patricia McGuire and Nate Brooks.There were 35 teams in the competition.The first place team will advance to the North American Canon Envirothon at Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada/Bay of Fundy, home to the world’s highest tides. They will compete with as many as 60 teams from the U.S. and Canada. The competition is conducted over five consecutive days every summer, in a different location each year.The five-member teams work to demonstrate their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management at five training and testing stations.The local Envirothon sponsor is the Northwest Conservation District. Housatonic agricultural education teacher Dave Moran said the team would like to bring two alternates along to experience the event (plus a parent chaperone). The cost of sending one member is approximately $1,300. Those interested in helping to fund these deserving students and a chaperone should contact David Moran at 860-824-5123 (ext. 463) or email dmoran@hvrhs.org.