2011 Kansas ECO-MEET logo

What is an ECO-MEET?

How ECO-MEETS got started

Locations of the ECO-MEETs

When are the ECO-MEETs ?

How ECO-MEET aligns with
state education standards

Regional contact information

2011 Rules, Regulations & Reference materials

2011 State Packet  NEW!

How do I claim my scholarship money?

2011 ECO-MEET winners

Site Index

  Visit our Facebook page!

The
ECO-MEET
Mission

"To challenge and inspire an interest, appreciation and understanding of the natural sciences and the Kansas environment thru interscholastic competition."

WATCH THE VIDEO!
To see our promotional video, with scenes from previous ECO-MEETS and comments from
teachers and students, or to watch a recording of previous interpretive competitions,
contact your regional coordinator!

Videos are available in DVD or VHS format

 

  Location of the ECO-MEETS for 2011 

Locations of 2011 Kansas Eco-Meets

REGIONAL CONTACTS & 2011 REGIONAL DATES

Hays/Webster -
Sternberg Museum
Tuesday,
October 4
CONTACT:
Brian Bartels,
620-672-0746
Zach Kesler
785-425-6775
Wilson -
Wilson State Park
Wednesday,
October 5
CONTACT:
Mike Rader at
mike_rader@hotmail.com or
mike.rader@ksoutdoors.com
or 620-672-0708
Salina -
Lakewood Discovery Center
Thursday,
September 29
CONTACT:
Bill Gaskill or
Brian Underwood
785-826-7335
Milford -
Milford Nature Center
Wednesday,
September 28
CONTACT:
Pat Silovsky
785-238-5323
Lawrence -
Prairie Park
Nature Center
Monday,
October 17
CONTACT:
Marty Birrell
785-832-7980 or
Pat Silovsky
785-238-5323
Hutchinson -
Dillon Nature Center
Thursday,
October 13
CONTACT:
Mary Clark
620-663-7411
Wichita -
Great Plains Nature Center
Tuesday,
October 11
CONTACT:
Jim Mason
316-683-5499 x103
Girard (SE Kansas) -
Greenbush
Wednesday,
October 19
CONTACT:
Mike Rader at
mike_rader@hotmail.com or
mike.rader@ksoutdoors.com
or 620-672-0708
Pat Silovsky
785-238-5323
Olathe -
Ernie Miller Nature Center
Wednesday,
October 26
CONTACT:
Bill McGowan
913-764-7759 or
Mike Rader at
mike_rader@hotmail.com or
mike.rader@ksoutdoors.com
or 620-672-0708

KANSAS ECO-MEET CALENDAR:

Nine regional ECO-MEETs were held in 2011.

Milford (Milford Nature Center) - Wednesday, September 28
Salina (Lakewood Discovery Center) - Thursday, September 29
Hays/Webster (Sternberg Museum) - Tuesday, October 4
Wilson (Wilson State Park) - Wednesday, October 5
Wichita (Great Plains Nature Center) - Tuesday, October 11
Hutchinson (Dillon Nature Center) - Thursday, October 13
Lawrence (Prairie Park Nature Center) - Monday, October 17
Southeast Kansas (Greenbush) - Wednesday, October 19
Olathe (Ernie Miller Nature Center) - Wednesday, October 26

The 2011 KANSAS STATE ECO-MEET will be held at Camp Wood,
near Elmdale in the Kansas Flint Hills. It will be held on Thursday, November 3.

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What's an ECO-MEET, you say?
Imagine a competition where knowledge of Kansas' wildlife and plants is the key to success! 
The ECO-MEETs offer a chance for the most naturally-qualified  high school students
to show what they know and win scholarships. 

Participants are tested in four areas:

Habitat -  tests integrated knowledge of specific Kansas habitat types.  The topic area
for 2011 is Woodlands.
Focus test -  tests knowledge of one particular group of animals.  For 2011 the focus topic will be Kansas Birds.

Both of these
are lab-type tests.

wildlife quiz
Taking the Quiz - photo by Tom Hein

Scavenger Hunt - ability to locate and identify various natural objects. 
This part takes place outside and mainly tests the ability to identify native plants.
 
Interpretation - ability to communicate ideas to an audience.

It's more than a skit and less than a speech,
with elements of both
- and a lot of fun!

Interpretation
Natural foods?! - photo by Tom Hein

Both team and individual effort are recognized by giving college scholarships to
the members of the top three teams and to the top two individuals in the ecosystem and focus tests.
 
A little background:

The first ECO-MEETS were held by the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1976. 
ECO-MEETS are still being held there
and the concept has spread to Illinois, Georgia, Maryland and Kansas.

Kansas ECO-MEET History:

The Kansas ECO-MEETS began in 1991 at the Milford Nature Center near Junction City.  The Milford ECO-MEET draws teams from schools in the adjacent ten-county area.  It became so successful that other areas began having them.
1999 was the first year in Kansas where more than one area had an ECO-MEET.  One was held at Wilson State Park near Russell and one was held at the Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita.  This made it necessary to have a statewide contest to decide who had the best team!
In 2000, the number of regional ECO-MEETS more than doubled to seven.  In addition to Wichita, Milford and Wilson, new ECO-MEETS were held at Lake Scott, Hays, Hutchinson and Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge.  (This was the only year for the Lake Scott event.)
In 2001, three new ECO-MEETS were held at Pittsburg, Salina and Pratt, bringing the total to nine.
In 2002, there were eight regionals ECO-MEETS.
In 2003, nine regional ECO-MEETS were held as we welcomed Hays back and a new regional at Garden City.
In 2004, a new ECO-MEET was held in NW Kansas at the Smoky Valley Ranch.
Nine total regional ECO-MEETS were held.
In 2005, a new ECO-MEET was held in Kansas City at the F.L. Schlagle Library at Wyandotte County Lake.  Eight total regional ECO-MEETS were held.
In 2006, seven regional ECO-MEETS were held.
In 2007, seven regional ECO-MEETS were held and we welcomed back the event at Greenbush in Southeast Kansas.
In 2008, eight regional ECO-MEETS were held, including a new event in Olathe!
In 2009, eight regional ECO-MEETS were held.
In 2010, nine regional ECO-MEETS were held.
In 2011, nine regional ECO-MEETS were held.

 

The twelfth Kansas statewide ECO-MEET was held at
the Kansas Wetlands Education Center and Camp Aldrich on November 4, 2010.

Here are the winners!

Check out the winners from previous years!

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Questions or comments about the Kansas ECO-MEET website may be directed to: Jim Mason