2026 FRANKLIN COUNTY ENVIROTHON 1ST PLACE TEAM

Pictured:  Cabella Shaffer, Chloe (Bella) Stevens, Haley Snyder, Madeline Book & Killian McNew

 

Congratulations to James Buchanan High School’s (JBHS) Forces of Nature; who were awarded first place with the highest score of 325 points at the Franklin County Conservation District’s annual Envirothon competition on April 16th at Cowans Gap State Park in Fort Loudon, PA. Waynesboro Area Senior High School’s Porcupine Power and Aquanauts earned second (317 points) and third places (306 points), respectively. JBHS’s winning team will be heading to the Pennsylvania state Envirothon competition to represent Franklin County, on May 20th in Mifflinburg, PA.

On a perfectly sunny and warm April day, eight teams from Chambersburg Area, Cumberland Valley Christian, James Buchanan, and Waynesboro Area High Schools competed in the competition. The Franklin County champion team from JBHS was led by Mrs. Jenna Ross and consisted of members: Haley Snyder, Madeline Book, Cabella Shaffer, Chloe (Bella) Stevens and Killian McNew. Ten middle school teams also participated in their division to gain experience. Participating middle schools were: Chambersburg Area (North and South), Montessori of Chambersburg and Waynesboro Area Middle Schools.

The Envirothon is an environmental education competition where high school students are tested in five natural resource-related subject areas. Students spend countless hours preparing to compete in the engaging subject topics of aquatics, forestry, soils & land use, wildlife, and a current issue (which is annually selected to reflect an up-and-coming environmental theme).

This county event is a shared day, where both Franklin and Fulton County Conservation Districts come together to encourage our local schools to compete in their counties’ competition. Experts in each station, oversaw students’ use of practical skills in tree, wildlife, and aquatic organism identification, tree measurement, and soil map interpretation. Station leaders included representatives from PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – Bureau of Forestry, Natural Resources Conservation Service, PA Fish and Boat Commission, PA Department of Environmental Protection, PA Game Commission, Juniata College Environmental Science Department, and Penn State Extension’s Master Watershed Steward Program alongside Franklin and Fulton County Conservation District staff.

The 2026 Franklin County Envirothon was made possible by our sponsors: Adams Electric Cooperative, Inc., American Legion Posts #15 of Waynesboro and #46 of Chambersburg, Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc., Keurig Dr Pepper of Aspers, Lady Moon Farms, Inc., Mercersburg Lions Club and Waste Connections; Blue Ridge Landfill.