1. Students in grades 9-12 are eligible to participate.

2. Each VASWCD Area may send the top three teams from the Area contest to participate in the state Envirothon contest. The top three teams must be from different Districts. Each team should represent a single high school or FFA, or 4-H Club, or Ecology Club, etc. Groups of home-schooled students organized to work together as a team are eligible.

3. An Area registration form is due to the VASWCD office by April 20, 2002. State contest materials will be distributed to the host of each Area competition before each Area Envirothon in order that the materials may be distributed to the teams that will advance as soon as that team is known. It is the SWCD's responsibility to let the VASWCD office know the teams participating in the state contest in a timely manner so that arrangements for teams can be made. It is the duty of the coach to make sure appropriate chaperones are in keeping with their individual school policies for field trips. Information will be included in registration materials that relates to housing and meals.

4. A team consists of five members from the same school or club. One or two alternates are allowed, in the event an original member is unable to participate, an alternate may take their place. Otherwise, alternates will not be allowed to go to the stations with their team and may not help the team set up during the presentation part of the contest. No alternates will be allowed to attend the state competition.

5. Coaches or advisors must accompany their team to the state contest. They will not have contact with their team at the stations during the competition but may be guides for other teams during the contest, if needed.

6. The contest will consist of questions on soils, aquatics, forestry, wildlife, introduced species and how they affect biodiversity and an oral presentation. The station areas will be worth 1/7 each of the overall score. The presentation will be worth 2/7. Students may compile a list of resource references and information and present it to judges before or during their presentation.

7. Team members work together to answer test questions, submitting one completed test to the station judges before moving to the next station. Forty- five minutes will be allowed for answering questions at each station.

8. Presentations will be given Sunday afternoon, May 20, 2002. Each team will be assigned a location and time for their presentation. Each team will have 5 minutes to set up, 20 minutes to make their presentation and 5 minutes to answer questions from the judges-30 minutes total. The National Envirothon presentation score sheet will be used at the State contest. There will be two rooms assigned for 9 presentations each. There will be two sets of 5 judges. After every presentation, two judges will rotate to the other room. The high and the low score from each presentation will be dropped. In keeping with the national contest, only nonelectrical "AV" such as flip charts, posters, models, maps, etc. will be allowed.

9. The scores of the Sunday afternoon presentations (worth 2/7 of total) will be added to the scores of each station (worth 1/7 each) on Monday. The three teams with the highest overall score will be announced. The top three teams in the presentation area will give their presentations in front of everyone while the final scores are being tabulated.

10. Medallions will be presented to teams who earn the highest score in each of the categories of forestry, aquatics, wildlife, soils, urban nonpoint pollution and the presentation. A trophy will be presented to the top overall scoring team and gold, silver and bronze medals to the top three overall teams.

11. The first place team will represent Virginia at the National Envirothon July 29-August 4, 2002 at Hampshire College, Amherst Massachusetts. In the event that the first place team is unable to go, the second place team will represent Virginia at the national contest. Only five team members and two coaches may travel to Nationals.

12. Medical needs, emergencies and student conduct during the competition are the responsibility of the school/coach or group the team represents during the contest. Please have students share medical information such as allergies or medication needs with coaches before leaving for the contest. The contest should be considered a school or group-sanctioned field trip. Check with the school about appropriate permission slips or liability waivers that apply to field trips for your school system.