Nature education challenge regional winners announced; deadline to register for state competition imminent 

LITTLE ROCK — Students in schools throughout Arkansas have flexed their culinary skills and nature knowledge during the last month, engaging in regional competitions and preparing for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Generation Conservation Summit, which will be held at Hot Springs Convention Center and Bank OZK Arena Nov. 5-6. Educators have until Oct. 10 to enter their students in what is sure to be the pinnacle of outdoor education in The Natural State.

“GenCon” is more than a single event; it’s a science-based student outdoor recreation and conservation club meant to test and expand outdoor skills and knowledge.

According to J.J. Gladden, assistant chief of the AGFC’s Education Division, student teams have been working together throughout the beginning of the school year to learn more about conservation science and all the different competitions being held at the summit. With the breadth of knowledge being showcased, there’s something that touches on practically any student’s interest.

No doubt, there will be physical challenges guided by the AGFC Enforcement Division and wildlife identification skills headed up by the AGFC’s Wildlife Management Division, but there will also be competitions using computer mapping software, nature photography, journalism and even debate challenges judged by the AGFC’s legal team.

“That’s what’s really so great about GenCon,” Gladden said. “When someone sees that I work for the AGFC, they automatically ask if I’m a game warden, but there are so many other fields of study that have to come together to make conservation happen. This summit gives us the opportunity to showcase some of those other disciplines.”

The students who competed in regional events earlier this month can attest to the breadth of competitions available. During the first round of GenCon activities, teams of students flexed their mental muscles in quiz bowl formats focused on conservation knowledge, and high school teams showed off some creative cooking abilities in the wild game culinary competition.

“Everyone entering the workforce may not have their mind set on wildlife management, but everyone can have a mind for conservation, no matter what career they pursue,” Gladden said. “And with the many easy ways people have to get involved in conservation, we’re betting that each one of these students has a role to play in the future of wildlife management, even if it’s volunteering or contributing to the AGFC at a local level.”

Visit www.agfc.com/conservationsummit to learn more and sign up your school to participate in this year’s Generation Conservation Summit. Students and teachers who register will be entered into drawings for prizes throughout the event, and schools that sign up will be entered into drawings for educator kits valued at more than $1,000.

Generation Conservation Regional Winners 

East Region

• Quiz Bowl

Middle School – Wynne Junior High

High School – Riverside High School (Lake City)

• Culinary – Greene County Tech High School (Paragould)

West Region

• Quiz Bowl

Elementary – Mt. Judea Elementary

Middle School – Prairie Grove Middle School

High School – Lamar High School

• Culinary – Mt. Judea High School

North Region

• Quiz Bowl

Elementary – Flippin Elementary

Middle School –Flippin Middle School

High School – Flippin High School

• Culinary – Izard County Consolidated

South Region

• Quiz Bowl

Middle School – Harmony Grove Middle School

High School – Caddo Hills High School

• Culinary – Caddo Hills High School

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CUTLINES:

QUIZ BOWL
Wynne Junior High edged out Brookland Junior High to take top honors in the East Region quiz bowl competition put on by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. AGFC photo. 

PRESENTING FOOD
Students from Greene County Tech presented an excellent dish of wild game to win the East Region culinary competition. AGFC photo.

COOKING
Teams across the state competed last month in a series of regional competitions; the statewide competition registration deadline is Oct. 10. AGFC photo.