TEST GUIDELINES
Test Concepts:
Terminology
Identification
Equipment/Career Information
BMP and Management Planning
Overall Importance of the Resource
Problem Solving and Technical Skills
Site specific questions
75 Points for the written portion questions (each category):
Multiple choice
Short answers
Fill in the blanks
Matching
NO True False questions
75 Points for the oral question – Key Points to consider:
Team Work – Requires students to formulate the answer as a team and present the answer/solutions as a team. No one person can deliver the answer.
Knowledge - Requires teams to remember information they have already learned, may include factual data, definitions or observations.
Comprehension - Consider factual information they have learned and interpret it. Make comparisons and interpretations.
Application - Give solutions to problems.
Analysis - Higher level thinking questions; teams must show understanding of the parts to an entire concept.
Synthesis –Teams are required to analyze information and give explanations.
Evaluation -Teams make judgments on ideas, solutions, methods or even products. Answers that provide reasons for the evaluation demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the topic, requiring the use of all the previous levels of thought processes.
Two short-answer questions per category will make up the Tie Breaker. This can be worked on at the Oral Presentation station.
Oral Question Presentation: Each registered team will be given a current issue scenario. The logistics and rubric will be provided with the scenario. Each team will use the provided Google Slides template provided to create a presentation. On the day of the event, the presentation will be loaded on a computer, projected on a screen and each team will have 5 minutes to present their presentation as a team to a panel of judges.
Keep in mind that lighting may not be the best for brightly lit areas - we will do our best, but choose your colors, backgrounds, text, and images wisely.
Although a specific rubric will be provided, keep in mind team work, presentation, and the knowledge, understanding & science-sound information provided of the content.
AQUATIC ECOLOGY
Water ecology, water chemistry, plants and animals living in or around water, water quality, water conservation, etc.
United States Geological Survey (USGS) – Water Science Glossary of Terms
Be familiar with general water quality testing kits for a possible hands-on portion.
See Florida Envirothon Aquatic Ecology resources also
CURRENT ISSUE
2025 Current Topic: Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change
A topic selected annually by the NCF Envirothon and often adopted by the Regional and State Envirothon's Planning Committees with specific state or area modifications.
See Florida Envirothon Current Issue resources also
FORESTRY
Forest ecology, tree identification, insects, diseases, timber measurements, forest management, urban forestry, forest economics, etc.
About Tree Rings: http://ltrr.arizona.edu/about/treerings
Not an advertisement, but a listing of commonly used forestry tools to be aware of that could be used on the test: https://www.baselineequipment.com/forestry-measurement-tools
See Florida Envirothon Forestry resources also
SOIL & LAND USE
Classification, soil formation, basic chemical and physical properties, profiles, soil characteristics, soil surveys, site suitability, erosion, land use, conservation practices, etc.
Sustainable Agriculture: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/terms/srb9902terms.shtml
Soil education: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/natural-resource-concerns/soils/soil-health
Soil classification: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm
Be familiar with general soil testing kits, what core samples look like and how to identify different types of soils for a possible hands-on portion.
See Florida Envirothon Soil & Land Use resources also
WILDLIFE
Identification, habitat, foods, diseases, rules and regulations, management, etc. You do not need to know every single species, just be aware that species identification may be on the test. Usually more commonly known ones, endangered ones and/or hot topic ones are most often asked about if an identification guide is not provided.
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) – Wildlife & Habitats (specifics will be provided when necessary)
IFAS Ecosystems & Species (1st clicks on the listed ecosystems and species listed)
Birds of South Florida (Wild South Florida)
Florida Amphibians & Reptiles (Florida Museum)
Be familiar with general identification and how to use dichotomous keys for a possible hands-on portion.
See Florida Envirothon Wildlife resources also
FLORIDA ENVIROTHON RESOURCES - all categories
All study packets are suggested topics, concepts and areas of interest. Questions are directly taken from the Key Points, Study Packets and/or websites. Websites are those suggested by the test makers of the Florida Envirothon.
NCF ENVIROTHON RESOURCES - all categories
Click on each - as well as off to the side for "Areas of Study" - any educational resource for curriculum/guideline on the main North American Envirothon website is fair game. You will note that under Key Points & Learning Objectives they don't actually list "answers", but for team members to UNDERSTAND concepts.
https://envirothon.org/the-competition/areas-of-study/
EXAMPLE TESTS PROVIDED BY THE NORTH AMERICAN ENVIROTHON WEBSITE - (examples of the North American test questions, not necessarily regional or state)
https://envirothon.org/educational-resources/test-writing/
All study packets are suggested topics, concepts and areas of interest. Questions are directly taken from the Key Points, Study Packets and/or websites. Category Key Points and Study Packets are the same used for the Florida Envirothon. Websites are those suggested by the test makers of the Southeast Regional Envirothon.
CURRENT LOCATION
Questions pertaining to the park may be on written tests. If the location has a website with environmental information relevant to the current topic. (If there isn't environmental information specific to a location, then "CURRENT LOCATION" will not be a live link.)