By Annette Aucamp & Emma Kavcioglu

The school’s Envirothon teams, teams 24 and 25, competed in the Forestry Challenge in San Bernardino from November 15 to 18. Team 25, scored third overall in the competition.
Team 25 was made up of five students: freshman Samuel Rivas and juniors Erika Lopez, Vincent Pendon, Natalie Azadian, and Adam Alvarez. Team 25 was noteworthy for being completely composed of newcomers to Envirothon, making this their first time competing in the Forestry Challenge.

Team 24 consisted of three returning members: juniors Tasnim Shamsul and Brooke Miller, as well as senior Valentina De La Torre. Team 24 also welcomed one new member, junior Luka Marmol. This team competed in the Santa Cruz Forestry Challenge in October, so they could not place in the November competition.

The Forestry Challenge serves as an academic competition in which students deepen their knowledge of forestry. This unique competition aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of forestry principles as well as the chance to explore careers in natural resource management.

While at the Forestry Challenge, students evaluated a 1/10 acre plot of land, determined whether it met specific wildfire protection guidelines, and prepared a presentation on their findings, which was scored.

The second part of the challenge consisted of a field test, where students applied skills and knowledge acquired during the event, including measuring and analyzing tree rings. Students used tools such as booklets and guides to identify trees, measure their height, and calculate their age.

Team 25 placed third overall in the competition, scoring 125.5/150 on their field test and a 84.7/100 on their presentation. They scored a 210.2 overall.

Team 24 scored a 127.5/150 for their field test and a 93.7/100 on their presentation. They scored a 221.1 overall. They would have placed 2nd overall in the competition if they had been eligible to place.

Teams that score over 200 points qualify for the 2024 Forestry State Championship in Mammoth. Teams 24 and 25 both qualified for the upcoming championship.

“I’m very proud of us and I am excited for us to go to state championships,” Pendon said.
Granada Hills Charter (GHC) has always been active in forestry. GHC’s Envirothon advisor and science teacher Wendy Hagan was honored in October as the Forestry Challenge teacher of the year.

The teams are preparing for the state championship in April. They are determined to carry forward their momentum and success in this semester’s Forestry Challenge.