THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 4, 1994 TAG: 9408040614
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL NOWELL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: ASHEVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Chris Renshaw, a rising senior at Coventry High School in northern Connecticut, jumped at the chance to participate in the seventh annual National Envirothon.
``After all, we are all citizens of the world,'' said Renshaw, who along with four other teammates will compete in the event at the University of North Carolina at Asheville against teams of high school students from 23 other states and Nova Scotia.
Over the next three days, the students will study the effects of acid rain on the mountains of western North Carolina. They will visit Mount Mitchell, where many scientists believe acid rain is responsible for killing thousands of mature trees.
``I grew up in large cities so I love to go into the woods to get a little peace and quiet,'' Renshaw said Wednesday after finishing lunch with his teammates and coach, Tom Abbott.
Like any good scientist, Renshaw doesn't want to have any preconceived notions about the topic of this year's competition - acid rain.
``We want to get a broader view of what is happening,'' he said. ``You can't get that from an armchair view. I don't think we're going to solve anything over the next three days, but if we bring it to some national attention we feel like we're making a difference.''
This is the first time the national competition has been held outside the Northeast. The Envirothon is organized by soil and water conservation districts in states as far away as Maine, California and Washington.
There's even a team from Colequid Educational Center in Nova Scotia, Canada.
``It's a real learning experience,'' said Elaine Fox, director of special academic programs at UNC-Asheville. ``These kids have already expressed a serious interest in environmental issues. They competed at the state level to win the chance to come here and compete against some of the the brightest minds in the country.''
The event is being coordinated by Steve Bennett, the soil and water conservation district coordinator from Raleigh. The North Carolina team is from Clayton High School in Wake County.
``I enjoy seeing these kids learning more about the outdoors,'' Bennett said. ``The problems we have probably won't go away. We won't solve all of them in our lifetime.''
The competition is challenging but fun, like a hike through the Linville Gorge or a canoe trip on the New River. While it tests an individual's mental and physical being, it also offers new insights and a sense of self-esteem to the teenage contestants.
``These kids have already put in a lot of time getting ready for this,'' said Denise Conkling, the soil and water conservation district coordinator for Hartford County, Conn. Her district is sponsoring the Coventry High School team. by CNB