New Brunswick’s provincial environmental education and natural resources competition. Schools / groups can register a team of five students, with up to two advisors (teachers, parents, or interested volunteers) to guide the team. Resource materials, virtual workshops, activities, and contact people, are available to help teams prepare for the annual provincial competition in May.
Envirothon NB Competition (Grades 9-12): Two-Day event May 4&5, 2025 at Mount Allison University
High School Team Competition Fee: $400/team
Middle School Challenge: – We are looking for middle school teachers to work with the Envirothon NB program to incorporate it in their classrooms or school clubs with potential participation at the Competition’s Field Day on May 4, 2025. No fee to participate. Contact the Envirothon NB Director, Becky Geneau for more information.
Throughout the school year, teams increase their knowledge of five environmental subjects:
 | Watersheds and Water Systems Aquatic Environments The Biotic World |
 | Tree Physiology and Tree Identification Forest Management Forest Measurements Forest Health |
 | Soil Characteristics and Properties Soil Forming Processes and Factors Big Ideas of the Critical Zone: Geology and Landscape Experience |
 | Small Mammals of New Brunswick General Bird Identification Tracks, Scat and Skulls Wildlife Terminology |
 | Current Environmental Issues that change annually. Envirothon NB 2025 Current Environmental Issue : Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change |
Workshops are available both in-person and virtually with professionals and are offered throughout the year in preparation for the provincial competition. At the Envirothon NB Competition in May, the students’ theoretical and field knowledge is examined through outdoor or online field tests under the supervision of natural resources professionals, such as aquatic and wildlife biologists, foresters, and soil scientists. During these field tests, the students will be asked to do such things as identify species of trees, describe nutrient cycles in aquatic systems, and identify signs of wildlife. The teams are also asked to devise and present a proposal to deal with a serious environmental concern presented to them in advance. Integrating all five subject areas, and presenting their proposal in a manner that the public will understand, helps students understand real-world issues involving ecology and the environment.
How It All Began
Envirothon was started in 1979 by three Pennsylvania soil and water conservation districts. By 1988, the idea had caught on and the first national contest was held. After a decade of national competitions across the states, gathering more popularity as time went on, Canon U.S.A. became the official sponsor of Envirothon in 1998. The competition provides the top three teams with scholarships to a college/university/trade school of choice. Nova Scotia became the first Canadian province to participate in Envirothon in 1993, and has been competing ever since. It also hosted the 2000 Envirothon competition at Acadia University in Wolfville, where New Brunswick took part in its first Envirothon. Harvey High School represented the province at the 2000 Envirothon competition. The first official provincial Envirothon competition in New Brunswick was held in May 2001, and with its inaugural start, New Brunswick also became the first jurisdiction to hold a bilingual competition. Although Ontario has been hosting regional Envirothon competitions in French only, Envirothon New Brunswick 2001 was the first bilingual competition in North America. Canadian provinces which have participated in the Envirothon are: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and the Yukon Territory. To learn more about the International NCF-Envirothon, please visit their website.