La Plata High School students claimed top honors in the Charles County Envirothon on April 15 at Gilbert Run State Park in Charlotte Hall, earning the right to represent Charles County Public Schools at the state competition.
La Plata’s Team 3 scored 416 points to finish first among teams from the seven Charles County high schools. The team consists of juniors Riley Johnson, Alison Miller and Sofia Myers, along with sophomore Amelia Liston. La Plata Team 4 placed second, while Westlake High School’s Team 13 took third.
The annual event caps a year of study in aquatics, forestry, soils and wildlife. Students also tackled a changing fifth topic. This year, teams focused on non-point source pollution, a subject that connects directly to local efforts to protect the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in Southern Maryland.
Teams prepared through three trainings held at the Charles Soil Conservation District farm. These sessions built practical skills through hands-on activities before the county contest.
Sofia Myers, a junior on the winning team, first learned about Envirothon during her sophomore year. She joined after the club’s initial meeting and quickly became engaged. Myers has formed new friendships and participated in activities that strengthened her commitment to environmental issues.
“Everyone should be concerned about the environment,” Myers said. “It’s our Earth, we live here and we have to take care of it.”
The victory advances La Plata Team 3 to the Maryland Envirothon, scheduled for June 10-11, 2026, at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg. The national competition follows July 19-25, 2026, at Mississippi State University in Starkville.
The Charles County Envirothon, organized since 1993 by the Charles Soil Conservation District, involves all seven public high schools in the county. It emphasizes problem-solving in natural resources and encourages students to connect classroom learning with real-world environmental challenges in Southern Maryland.
Participation has grown steadily, with teams building knowledge throughout the school year. The program’s structure includes field-based testing at sites like Gilbert Run Park, where students demonstrate expertise through written exams, oral presentations and practical stations.
This year’s focus on non-point source pollution highlighted issues such as stormwater runoff and agricultural impacts, topics particularly relevant in a region working toward watershed restoration goals.
The success of La Plata High School continues a tradition of strong performances from Charles County teams at the county level. Students gain not only academic credits but also lifelong awareness of conservation practices that support the local environment.
As the team prepares for the state event, their achievement underscores the value of hands-on environmental education in Southern Maryland public schools. It also spotlights the dedication of students who balance rigorous academics with extracurricular commitment to sustainability.
The Maryland Envirothon brings together winning teams from across the state for similar testing in the five core areas. Top performers may advance further, with the national event drawing competitors from multiple states and provinces.
For Charles County participants, the progression from local trainings to state and potentially national stages offers a pathway to develop leadership and scientific skills with direct ties to regional environmental priorities.
