Bookmark Contests, Grades K-2
Entry deadline: Jan. 23, 2026
Theme: Pollinators
This contest is open to Union County public, private and homeschool students in grades K-2.
Contest is judged on originality, design, and reproducibility. Original work only, no tracing or use of copyrighted images.
To participate, request an entry form.
Conservation Contests, Grades 3-8
Entry deadline: Jan. 23, 2026
Theme: We All Live In a Watershed
Union County Soil and Water Conservation District annually administers education contests. For more details about this contest, visit our Conservation Contests webpage.
Grades 3-5 | Poster Contest
Grade 6 | Essay Contest
Grades 7-8 | Public Speaking Contest
Envirothon
Envirothon is the largest environmental science competition in North America and encourages students to learn about conservation topics ranging from current environmental issues to tree identification.
Students compete at the middle and high school levels in teams of five from public, private, or home schools as well as FFA or 4-H groups.
UC Soil and Water provide support to teams and their advisors as needed, primarily through hands-on training.
More information about NC Envirothon and the curriculum.
For Students
Resource Conservation Workshop
The Resource Conservation Workshop is an excellent opportunity for rising High School Juniors and Seniors to spend a week in the field learning about our natural resources and their management in today's environment, meet and receive guidance from natural resource professionals, win cash awards and scholarship money, and so much more!
Each year Union County’s Soil and Water Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors selects and sponsors two high school students to attend. To apply for sponsorship, students must submit an application and complete a 250 essay on their interest in conservation.
For Teachers
Professional Development
Union County Soil and Water Conservation District trains educators in a variety of Profession Development Courses including:
- Project Learning Tree
- Project Food, Land, and People
- Leopold Education Project
- NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence
- Project WET
- Project WILD
- Population Education
These programs can provide both CEU credits as well as Environmental Education Certification credits.
Classroom and Other Programs
Classroom programs are offered free of charge for students and teachers in public, private, and alternative schools upon request. Each program is customizable and in line with NC Essential Standards.
Elementary Programs
1st Grade
- Rocks, Minerals and Soils, Oh My!
- Where Should Turtle Be?
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
- Dig into Soils
- Every Tree for Itself
4th Grade
5th Grade
Middle School Programs
6th Grade
- Soil Conservation Then and Now
7th & 8th Grades
- Water Quality and The Human Impact
In addition to classroom programming, Union County Soil and Water Conservation District also offers activities and presentations for after-school programs, camps, senior centers, and special events on natural resource topics of your choice.
Request a free program.
