CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – Southern Oregon students demonstrated their environmental science prowess at the state level, with two local teams placing in the top three at the 2025 Oregon Envirothon. A team from Logos Public Charter School won the state title for the fourth consecutive year and will advance to the international competition in Canada this summer, while a team from Eagle Point High School secured a third-place finish.
The state competition, held May 2 in Silverton, tests students’ knowledge in five hands-on subjects: aquatic ecology, forestry, soils, wildlife, and a rotating current issue. This year the current issues was “Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change.” Both teams honed their skills at the Southern Oregon Regional Envirothon, hosted by the Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District.
The regional competition gives students a crucial advantage by providing real-world practice with professional tools and scenarios, from texturing soil samples to using a clinometer to measure tree heights. “The Envirothon Program is truly impactful to students,” said Chris Van Ness, advisor for the winning “Rogue Pack Alpha” from Logos. “They learn concepts and ‘best management practices’ related to natural resource management. Students work collaboratively in creating viable solutions with regard to real-world issues.” The preparation paid off for Eagle Point’s “Climate Crew” as well. Advisor Amanda Elliott said her students’ engagement with the material has been a “treat to watch,” saying that the Envirothon practice is the “highlight of my week.”
Ellie Zignego, the lead event coordinator with the Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District, said the competition provides a clear pathway for students interested in environmental careers by connecting them with professionals and showing them that jobs where you “get to spend your day in a forest” are attainable. “I think a lot of students have these ideas of what they want to be when they grow up, but it seems kind of like those ideas are up in the clouds, and they don’t see the ladder. They don’t see how accessible it really is to attain that. And so offering events like the Envirothon allows these students to be able to see the steps that they need to take, and how attainable those steps are in order to reach their dreams.”…