Cedar Springs High School Named Michigan’s 2026 Envirothon Champions
Team to Represent Michigan at National Championship in Mississippi this July, with Support from Kent County Farm Bureau and Kent Conservation District
Cedar Springs, MI – June 11, 2026
The Environmental Ambassadors from Cedar Springs High School have been named Michigan’s 2026 Envirothon State Champions and will represent the state at the National Conservation Foundation Envirothon in Starkville, Mississippi, this July. This was the first year competing for the Cedar Springs team. Their participation this year has been made possible through generous donations from Kent County Farm Bureau and the Kent Conservation District. The support of these organizations reflects a shared commitment to developing the next generation of conservation professionals.
For Cedar Springs advisor Heidi Schuitema, watching her students compete was a rewarding experience. “Watching our students address this like an academic sport, relying on each other’s thinking and reasoning skills, with strategy, and then experiencing the satisfaction of winning through teamwork was such a highlight,” she said. “These are some of the good hands we will leave this place to.”
The team earned their title at the 2026 Michigan State Envirothon Competition, hosted by the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD), May 12–14, 2026, at Northern Michigan University. The three-day event brought together high school students from across the state for Michigan’s premier environmental and natural resource education program.
MACD also congratulates this year’s runner-up teams from Genesee Intermediate School District:
- 2nd Place: CGI Sustainability Squad
- 3rd Place: CGI First Years
Winners in various categories were also recognized from Vandercook Lake Schools and Lenawee ISD.
In addition to representing Michigan at the National competition, the Cedar Springs team was awarded the Watershed/Nonpoint Source EnviroScape Model donated by JT&A, Inc. & EnviroScape to help them study and prepare for Nationals.
Students have an opportunity to demonstrate problem-solving skills, leadership, and understanding of conservation sciences across five subject areas: aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife, and the current environmental issue of the year.
This year’s current issues topic, non-point source pollution, is particularly relevant to Michigan. As a state defined by the Great Lakes, rivers, wetlands, and working agricultural lands, Michigan faces one of the most pressing conservation challenges: managing diffuse pollution from stormwater and agricultural runoff. Engaging students with this topic connects classroom learning directly to the conservation work happening across the state.
Team member Tiana, who is pursuing a career in forestry, described the experience as both professionally and personally valuable: “This has given me many educational opportunities and been a resume builder. It pertains directly to my career field and has allowed me to meet a lot of people.”
These sentiments were echoed by the other team members. Kailynn, who plans to study conservation, shared: “This has allowed me to learn more about conservation and has helped me meet new people.” For Brayden, the competition offered a broader lens on science: “This experience has shown me a greater scope to what I have learned in science classes.”
Envirothon is unique in that it focuses on outdoor field testing locations in addition to standard tests, and combines them with community projects and oral presentations. Team member Ryan noted lasting benefits beyond academics: “This has impacted my school career and my scouting career. I have improved my public speaking skills by doing Envirothon.”
This program would not be possible in Michigan without substantial volunteer support from Conservation Districts and other organizations across the state. This year’s competition represented hundreds of hours of volunteer time contributing everything from field station design and judging to year-round team mentorship.
“Michigan Envirothon continues to provide students with meaningful, real-world environmental education experiences that inspire leadership, teamwork, and career exploration in conservation and natural resources,” said MACD Executive Director Rivka Hodgkinson. “We are proud of all participating teams and look forward to seeing the Environmental Ambassadors represent Michigan on the national stage.”
All of the 85 students competing, regardless of placement, demonstrated the curiosity and commitment that conservation work requires. MACD congratulates every team and student who participated in the 2026 competition.
Planning for the 2027 Michigan Envirothon season is already underway. Schools, educators, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners interested in participating or supporting the program are encouraged to get involved. Learn more at https://www.macd.org/envirothon/ or contact Amber.Butterfield@MACD.org.
About MACD
The Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) represents Conservation Districts covering all of Michigan’s 83 counties, which work locally to protect and improve soil, water, and natural resources across the state. Envirothon is one of MACD’s flagship educational programs, engaging students in hands-on environmental learning and career exploration in conservation.