Environmental Education

Protecting Orange County’s natural resources requires more than conservation efforts - it demands an informed and engaged community. The District sponsors a comprehensive Environmental Education Program that empowers residents of all ages to become stewards of their local environment.

Our program provides educational workshops, environmental contests, and recognition awards for students, teachers, and community members throughout Orange County.

Conservation Contests

Annual conservation themed contests that will promote students' attitude of stewardship for our natural resources. For information detailing the current year theme, rules, tips and more, please choose from the following the contest you are interested in. 

Poster, Essay and Public Speaking Contests

The 2026 contests has been postponed. Contests will resume in 2027.

Conservation Contests, Grades 3-8

The Orange SWCD hosts annual environmental education contests for students across Orange County, including public, private, and home-schooled learners. These contests effectively promote conservation awareness and natural resource stewardship among young people. They also serve as a valuable platform for engaging with local schools and youth communities. Cash prizes are awarded to both students and teachers.

Contests available are:

•    Poster Contests for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades

The conservation topics vary from year to year. The upcoming topics include: 

•    2025-2026 We All Live in A Watershed - Posters Deadline is TBA 

•    2026-2027 Soil & Water...Yours for Life!

•    2027-2028 Water...The Cycle of Life

•    2028-2029 The Living Soil

•    2029-2030 Wetlands are Wonderful

Finalists are selected for first, second, and third places in each contest and grade category. First-place winners then qualify for the Area 3 competition, which includes eleven counties: Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Guilford, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Orange, Person, Randolph, and Rockingham. 

The top winners from the Area competition advance to the State level.

All winning entries are invited to an awards celebration, where students receive a monetary prize and a certificate for their achievements. Additionally, teachers whose students place first will receive a cash award to support educational supplies.

For detailed information on the contests—such as scoring rubrics, registration forms, tips, and NC DPI Goals & Objectives—please contact Lisa Pope at lpope@orangecounty.nc.gov or  919.245.2750.