Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Please contact the Massachusetts Envirothon coordination team via email massenvirothon@gmail.com with any additional questions.

Downloaded a PDF version of this information here. (coming soon)

When is the event?
  • The 2026 Massachusetts Envirothon competition is an all-day event held on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Where will the 2026 competition be held?
  • The 2026 Massachusetts Envirothon competition will be held at Hopkinton State Park.
Who can participate in the event?
  • Any student in grades 9 through 12 (including homeschool students) in the commonwealth can join a Massachusetts Envirothon Team. 
  • Due to space limitations, each school can register one team of between 3 to 5 students and one adult coach.
    • NOTE: Only teams of 5 students are eligible for winning first through fifth place in the overall competition and qualify for the National Conservation Foundation Envirothon Competition. 
    • Smaller teams (3-4 students) are eligible to place or win at any individual EcoStation.
  • Schools / Organizations wanting to bring a second team (of up to five students) will be added to a wait list, and invited to register pending space availability. 
  • New this year, Massachusetts Envirothon is inviting a limited number of Schools/Organizations to bring an additional team of students requiring special education services. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on total capacity. 
How is the event structured?
  • The Massachusetts Envirothon competition day consists of opening and closing ceremonies, timed rotations to complete each of the four EcoStation challenges (Soil, Water, Forest, Wildlife), Current Issue presentations, and possibly other optional activities.  
  • The 2026 Massachusetts Envirothon schedule is still being finalized. We will post it here prior to winter break (mid-December 2025).
  • The competition will begin on time. Teams arriving late are allowed to enter the competition, but cannot make up lost time or missed stations.
  • Below is last year’s schedule to give you a sense of the event, but we anticipate significant changes for 2026.
    • At registration on the day of the event, schools receive a schedule for the morning that ensures that their team(s) have a chance to compete at all four ecostations (soil, water, wildlife, forest) and to make a Current Issue presentation.  If the school has 2 teams competing, they will have different schedules that do not overlap.
    • The morning competition will take the form of five 50-minute sessions. At each ecostation, teams take a short answer/hands-on test of skills and knowledge related to forests, soil, wildlife, and water resources.  Tests include use of provided resource materials and assessment of conditions at the site.
    • At the Current Issue station the team members make a 15-minute presentation of their findings and recommendations to a panel of judges, then answer judges’ questions for 10 minutes. Teams are scored on their knowledge, recommendations, and presentation skills. Copies of the score sheets and scoring criteria used by the judges are included in the spring mailing.
    • Coaches are allowed to observe their team’s Current Issue presentation but do not accompany their teams to the ecostations. There is a separate program for coaches. There is no contact allowed between coaches and teams during the competition.
    • At lunchtime, teams are invited to relax, make new friends, share their community research and other experiences at the Roundtable session, and check their answers and meet the natural resource experts behind the questions on the morning’s tests.
    • The day concludes with recognition of teams that have qualified for the Community Research and Community Action awards. Final competition scores are posted by the following day.
What is the 2026 Current Issue?
Are there rules or guidelines for the competition?
  • Yes! All team members and coaches must agree to abide by the Massachusetts Envirothon Rules in all aspects of the program. 
  • Final amendments for the 2026 competition will be posted by March 2026.
  • Rules from previous years are available for reference here.
What awards and recognitions are offered, and how are winners selected?
  • Multiple types of awards and recognitions will be offered. Details to come.
  • Teams have a number of opportunities to place, win, or receive recognition. At minimum, Massachusetts Envirothon awards the following:
  • Each of these awards or selected by a panel of judges, based on a strict evaluation rubric to maintain consistency and fairness. 
  • Stay tuned: we are introducing new opportunities for awards and recognition for the 2026 competition, along with updated scoring guidelines! 
  • The overall first-place winning Massachusetts team is invited to represent the Commonwealth, and compete against teams from across North America, in the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Envirothon competition!
    • The NCF Envirothon is scheduled for July 19 – 25, 2026 at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi, USA.
    • Last year, Massachusetts’ winning team went on to win the national competition as well! 
    • For more information, visit: http://www.envirothon.org/
  • Scoring guidelines from previous years are available for reference here. The 2025 guidelines were:
    • A total of 500 points is possible in the competition.
      • Each EcoStation test is worth 100 points. The number of questions and point values varies across the four tests.  
      • The Current Issue presentation is worth 100 points. A team’s score is derived by averaging the judges’ individual scores. 
    • Massachusetts Envirothon 2025 awarded prizes for the first-, second-, and third-place winners overall; the top-scoring team at each EcoStation; and for the Current Issue. The five top-scoring teams at each station and the top ten teams overall are acknowledged in the post-event news release.
What about the Community Engagement Awards?
  • In past years, Massachusetts Envirothon has recognized teams (with optional, noncompetitive awards) for exceptional community research and application of their learning in service to their community.
  • New awards will be introduced for the 2026 Massachusetts Envirothon. Community Engagement awards will likely still be awarded, but the  structure may shift. More information will be coming soon.
  • Multiple types of awards and recognitions will be offered. Details to come.
Are there other Massachusetts Envirothon events throughout the year?
  • Yes! The Massachusetts Envirothon program typically hosts between one and three supplemental workshops each year. 
  • Workshops are designed to expose a wider range of students to Massachusetts Envirothon content and to practice skills relevant to the Critical Issue. They are not designed to give participating teams a competitive edge over those who do not attend. 
  • Students can participate in workshops, even if they do not intend to compete in the Massachusetts Envirothon competition. 
  • This year, we are offering three supplemental workshops:
    • Fall: Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at UMass Lowell
    • Winter: January-February, 2026 (date TBD) UMass Amherst
    • Spring: March-April, 2026 at Verdantas/Alden Research Laboratory
  • Visit the workshops page for more information: (link coming soon!)
  • Please contact us (massenvirothon@gmail.com) if you are interested in hosting a small, regional workshop!
What resources or materials are teams provided?
  • All necessary materials and guidance are available on the Massachusetts Envirothon website, and downloadable as PDF documents. These include:
    • Massachusetts Envirothon Manual. This includes background information on the four natural resource areas (soil, forest, wildlife, water) and guidance for teams to prepare for the EcoStation tests. 
    • Current Issue Guide. This provides an overview of the Current Issue topic, how it relates to each of the four natural resource areas (soil, forest, wildlife, water), and useful links for additional information on each topic. It also provides guidance for teams on getting started with their community research. 
    • Judging / Evaluation Criteria for each award (forthcoming). 
    • Past Massachusetts Envirothon manuals, Current Issue guides, sample EcoStation tests.
  • Massachusetts Envirothon offers EcoStation practice kits, available on loan. See the resources page [link] for more information.
What will teams receive in the Spring Mailing?
  • In mid March, Massachusetts Envirothon posts on the website, and emails to all registered teams, the following:
    • Final schedule for the May competition and directions to the event site
    • Intent to Compete Form (must be completed and returned by May 1, 2026).
    • Frequently Asked Questions about the Massachusetts Envirothon (including what to wear and bring to the competition event).
    • Final Current Issue information, including:
      • Current Issue Problem Statement & Guide
      • Current Issue guidelines and presentation suggestions 
      • Current Issue Judging Guidelines & Scoring Sheet
    • What is needed for on-site Massachusetts Envirothon registration (check-in) at the May competition.
How do we register for Massachusetts Envirothon?  (a four-step process)
  • There is a four-step registration process:
    • 1) Coach submits their Team’s 2025-26 Program Registration form. 
    • 2) Coach or Team Sponsor submits their Team’s $200 registration fee (or scholarship fee waiver, if applicable).
      • Fee can be paid at time of initial registration, or Massachusetts Envirothon can invoice the Team / Team’s sponsor for payment at a later date.
      • Program Registration and payment (or scholarship fee waiver) must be received by April 17, 2026.
    • 3) Coach submits their Team’s Final Confirmation by May 8, 2026, which includes:
      • Intent to Compete Form; final confirmation of your team members (names, grades, etc.)..
      • Community Engagement Award Submission; Optional: If your Team wants to be considered for a Community Engagement Award, document your Team’s community research and action projects, and how you met the standards for this award.
      • Spoken Word Award Submission; Optional; If your Team wants to participate in the Spoken Word competition, provide a transcript of the spoken word piece and who will be performing.
    • 4) Competition Check-in: Upon arrival onsite for the Massachusetts Envirothon event (Thursday, May 21, 2026), check in with event staff to confirm final attendees, collect name tags and materials; and take a Team photo.
How is Massachusetts Envirothon organized?
  • The Massachusetts Envirothon is planned each year by an interdisciplinary Steering Committee of environmental professionals, with support from a contracted Coordinator from across the Commonwealth.
  • The Steering Committee operates as a subcommittee of the Massachusetts State Commission for the Conservation of Soil, Water, and Related Resources. Members represent a variety of federal and state agencies, business, and nongovernmental organizations. See our Steering Committee page for more information (link coming soon). 
  • Massachusetts Envirothon relies on the active participation of its Steering Committee members, dedicated volunteers, and financial contributions from a variety of public agencies, educational institutions, businesses, non-profit organizations, and individual donors. 
  • This year, Massachusetts Envirothon is fortunate to be administered – and significantly funded – by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA).

Stay tuned for updated resources and materials!