Provincial Envirothon teams can register five students and one alternate, with up to two advisors (teachers, parents, or interested volunteers) to guide the team. Resource materials, such as lists of websites and contact people, are furnished to help teams prepare for the provincial competition. Throughout the school year, teams increase their knowledge of five environmental subjects: soils, fores
try, aquatics, wildlife and a fifth topic of environmental concern that changes annually. Workshops and field trips with professionals can be done throughout the year in preparation for the provincial competition. At the Envirothon NB Competition in May, the students' theoretical and field knowledge is examined through outdoor field tests under the supervision of natural resources professionals, such as aquatic and wildlife biologists, foresters, and soil scientists. During these field tests, the students will be asked to do such things as measure the height of trees, describe nutrient cycles in aquatic systems, and identify signs of wildlife. During the competition, the teams are also asked to devise and present a proposal to deal with a serious environmental concern presented to them the day earlier. Integrating all five subject areas, and presenting their proposal in a manner that the public will understand, helps students understand real-world issues involving ecology and the environment.