Kansas ECO-MEET Home 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 2008

REGIONAL CONTACTS & 2008 REGIONAL DATES

Webster -
Webster Reservoir
Thursday,
October 9
CONTACT:
Zach Kesler
785-425-6775

Wilson -
Wilson State Park
Wednesday, October 8
CONTACT:
Mike Rader
620-672-0708

Salina -
Lakewood Discovery Center
Thursday,
October 2
CONTACT:
Bill Gaskill or
Brian Underwood
785-826-7335

Milford -
Milford Nature Center
Wednesday, October 1
CONTACT:
Pat Silovsky
785-238-5323

Kansas City, Kansas -
F. L. Schlagle Library
Thursday,
October 30
CONTACT:
Jessica Lawrenz
913-299-2384

Hutchinson -
Dillon Nature Center
Tuesdday,
September 30
CONTACT:
Mary Clark
620-663-7411

Wichita -
Great Plains Nature Center
Tuesday,
October 21
CONTACT:
Jim Mason
316-683-5499

Girard -
Greenbush
Thursday,
October 23
CONTACT:
Mike Rader
620-672-0708 or
Pat Silovsky
785-238-5323

Olathe -
Ernie Miller Nature Center
Wednesday,
October 29
CONTACT:
Mike Rader
620-672-0708 or
Pat Silovsky
785-238-5323

KANSAS ECO-MEET CALENDAR:

Nine regional ECO-MEETs are scheduled for 2008.

	Hutchinson (Dillon Nature Center) - Tuesday, September 30
	Milford (Milford Nature Center) - Wednesday, October 1
	Salina (Lakewood Discovery Center) - Thursday, October 2
	Wilson (Wilson State Park) - Wednesday, October 8
	Webster (Webster State Park) - Thursday, October 9
	Wichita (Great Plains Nature Center) - Tuesday, October 21
	Girard (Greenbush) - Thursday, October 23
	Olathe (Ernie Miller Nature Center) - Wednesday, October 29
	Kansas City, KS (F. L. Schlagle Library) - Thursday, October 30

The 2008 KANSAS STATE ECO-MEET will be held on:

Wednesday, November 5 at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

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 2008 & 2009 is Tallgrass Prairie.
	Focus test - tests knowledge of one particular group of animals. For 2008 the focus topic will be Kansas Invertebrates.

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.

The ninth Kansas statewide ECO-MEET was held at
Rock Springs 4-H Center on October 31, 2007.

84 students from the regional ECO-MEETS
vied for top honors.
Click here to see who won!

Click here to see the winners from previous years!

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