What the SC Envirothon Is
The South Carolina Envirothon is a hands-on natural resources competition for high school student teams. Teams rotate outdoors through stations on soils, aquatics, forestry, wildlife and a yearly current topic, and they give an oral presentation on that topic. The winning team is sponsored to represent South Carolina at the North American Envirothon (NCF-Envirothon). The 2027 state competition is April 16, 2027 at the Clemson Sandhill Research and Education Center in Columbia, and the 2027 topic is "Soil Health Management: Agricultural Principles and Stewardship."
Who Can Enter and Rules
- Students must be in grades 9-12 (or equivalent). In 2026 the cutoff was January 1.
- Teams have 3 to 5 members and must have a coach. A program may send two teams made of students from the same school, organization or association, and two schools may join to form one team.
- Each team may have one alternate, registered at the table that morning.
- Students stay with their team guide. Coaches may not consult with or accompany their team once the competition begins.
- Electronic devices are not allowed near testing stations and can lead to disqualification. Clothing that identifies a city, county or school is not allowed, and competition t-shirts are provided and must be worn.
- The event is held outdoors, rain or shine.
How It Works: The Stations
Teams move as a unit through six 30-minute stations with short rotations. Five are written tests (Soils, Aquatics, Forestry, Wildlife and Current Topic), using formats that include true/false, multiple choice, matching, short answer, essay and practical exercises. The sixth is the Oral Presentation.
The oral presentation
Teams present for up to 10 minutes, followed by a 2-minute question period, and the presentation is stopped at 12.5 minutes. Students may use a PDF slideshow with no audio, video or animation, plus up to five 3.5 x 5 inch index cards per student. A panel of five judges scores out of 200 points, the high and low scores are dropped and the middle three are averaged. In 2026 the slideshow was due on the Sunday before the contest. Ties for first through third are broken by the higher oral presentation score.
Key Dates and Deadlines (2027)
- January 22, 2027: coaches training registration deadline
- January 30, 2027: coaches training at the Clemson Sandhill REC in Columbia
- March 19, 2027: team registration deadline
- April 16, 2027: SC Envirothon competition
- July 25-31, 2027: North American Envirothon in Emmitsburg, Maryland
The Day (2026 Schedule)
Team registration and photos began at 8:30 a.m., the opening ceremony was at 9:30 a.m. and guides escorted teams to the first station at 9:45 a.m. Competition began at 10:00 a.m. and ended around 1:25 p.m. Lunch and a raffle followed, with the awards ceremony at 2:00 p.m.
Fees, Awards and What You Get
- The 2026 registration fee was $175 per team, non-refundable after the deadline. Coaches training is free.
- First place: a $1,000 scholar award and gold medal per student, $1,000 to the head coach, a trophy and the trip to the North American Envirothon.
- Second place: $500 per student, $500 to the coach and a trophy. Third place: $250 per student, $250 to the coach and a trophy.
- Station winners receive a team certificate, and the Marc Cribb Exceptional Leader Award honors a student who shows enthusiasm, faithfulness and hard work for their team.
- All participants receive a t-shirt, water bottle and promotional items.
The 2026 overall winner was Spartanburg High School Team A. The FFA division was won by the SC Governor's School for Agriculture team, with Loris High FFA second and Pickens County CTC FFA third.
Where
Clemson Sandhill Research and Education Center, Columbia, SC. The event is held around the Lake House area. Directions given to teams: take I-20 to Exit 80 (Clemson Road), go north on Clemson Road, cross the bridge over Two Notch Road and turn right at the light into the Sandhill REC complex, opposite the Village at Sandhill shopping center. Teams arrange their own transportation, and gate codes are sent to registered attendees.
Questions
Can an FFA chapter enter?
Yes. Teams can come from a school, organization or association, and the competition recognizes an FFA division.
What do students wear and bring?
Sneakers, jeans or shorts and the provided t-shirt, plus sunscreen, allergy medications and a reusable water bottle. Pets, alcohol, tobacco and smoking are not permitted.
Where do I pay?
In 2026 the fee was paid through the local Soil and Water Conservation District, and registration packets were emailed to the SCDNR Envirothon coordinator.
Official Links
- SC Envirothon, SCDNR: dates, registration and past winners
- SC Envirothon Coaches Manual
- What to Expect at SC Envirothon
- Competition information
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- South Carolina 4-H State Engineering Challenge
Teams of 4-H members build and test design solutions at the State Engineering Challenge, held Feb. 10, 2027 at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia.
- State 4-H Engineering Challenge
State 4-H engineering challenge for youth teams at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia on February 10, 2027.
Columbia, SC | Organizer: Clemson 4-H Official event details - FFA Auctioneers CDE Semifinals
Semifinal round of the state FFA auctioneering contest in Columbia on February 22, 2027, with finalists moving on to the June state convention.
Columbia, SC | Organizer: SC FFA / Clemson Extension Official event details - FFA Legislative Day
FFA members meet lawmakers at the South Carolina Statehouse in Columbia on February 24, 2027.
Columbia, SC | Organizer: SC FFA / Clemson Extension Official event details - South Carolina 4-H Pinckney Leadership Roundup Columbia
The Columbia stop of the 4-H Pinckney Leadership Roundup, the last of three regional days for teen leaders, is set for March 6, 2027.
All South Carolina events by date
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.