Cultivating Resilience: UMass SES Hosts the Massachusetts Envirothon

Please note this event occurred in the past.
March 12, 2026 8:00 am - 2:00 pm ET
UMass Amherst Campus Center

Cultivating Resilience: UMass SES Hosts the Massachusetts Envirothon

The UMass School of Earth & Sustainability (SES) is proud to host the Massachusetts Envirothon Spring 2026 Workshop. This event brings together high school teams from across the Commonwealth to engage with the next generation of climate solutions and environmental leadership.

As the flagship university of the Commonwealth and a Top 30 Public Research University, UMass Amherst serves as a vital hub for this statewide program. This workshop is about more than a single day of learning; it is about building durable pathways for students from every corner of Massachusetts to the resources of a premier public institution. By hosting nearly 30 school teams and over 200 students, SES helps this proud national and state program leverage the world-class expertise, data, and knowledge found only at UMass.

Connecting the SES Network

This partnership ensures that the Massachusetts Envirothon is deeply integrated with the university’s mission as a land-grant institution. Through the leadership of Britt Crow-Miller, SES Faculty Leader and Director of the Sustainability Science graduate program, we are connecting the Massachusetts Envirothon and the NCF-Envirothon national platform to the "living laboratory" of our campus.

Our goal is to create a clear bridge for students to transition from high school environmental passion to university-level discovery and professional careers in the growing green economy.

2026 Theme: Living Sponge Communities

Participants at this year's workshop are tackling the current competition topic: "Living Sponge Communities: Strategies for Mitigating Environmental Impacts from Stormwater." Leveraging our status as a Top 10 Green College, SES faculty and staff are leading specialized sessions to help teams explore sciences, tools, and solutions that they can incorporate into their own community projects.

SES Expert-Led Sessions 

The workshop features a diverse set of presenters from across our SES network, including:

  • Climate Justice: SES Fellow and Social Justice Education doctoral candidate, Roisin Kirby facilitates a session on co-creating definitions for climate literacy and justice.
  • Sustainability & Circularity: Britt Crow-Miller (Environmental Conservation, Sustainability Science) guides a campus-wide Sustainability Tour, while Laurie Simmons (Facilities Management Sustainability) leads hands-on sessions on circularity.
  • Earth Systems Science: Julie Brigham-Grette (Earth, Geographic and Climate Sciences) presents on sea-level rise, while Deborah Henson (Environmental Conservation) explores wetland biogeochemistry, and Max Dilthey (Clean Energy Extension) digs into offshore wind.
  • Mentorship: Lena Fletcher hosts a panel with Natural Resources Conservation peer mentors to share insights on environmental academic pathways.
  • Community Resources: Madeleine Charney (UMass Seed and Herb Library) leads sessions on community reciprocity and plant-based stewardship.
  • Environmental Policy: Faith Nussbaum (UMass School of Public Policy) leads simulations on Massachusetts environmental policy.

Event Schedule

  • 8:00 AM: Arrival & Check-in / Refreshments
  • 8:30 AM: Opening Session
  • 9:30 AM: Concurrent Sessions Block 1
  • 10:45 AM: Concurrent Sessions Block 2
  • 11:45 AM: Lunch Period (Explore campus dining at The Blue Wall or Harvest Market)
  • 1:00 PM: Concurrent Sessions Block 3
  • 2:00 PM: Dismissal

State & University Partners

This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Commonwealth's flagship university and our state leadership. We are proud to recognize our partners:

Logistics & Planning

The Spring Workshop is a key preparation milestone for the 38th Annual Massachusetts Envirothon State Competition on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Hopkinton State Park.

  • Parking: Free parking is available in the Campus Center Garage (ParkMobile app code 26EN).
  • Dining: Campus options include The Blue Wall, Harvest Market, and People’s Organic.

Learn More

  • SES Leadership & Regional Coordination: To learn more about how the School of Earth & Sustainability is bridging university research with regional environmental needs, please visit the SES website.
  • Academic Pathways at UMass: For more information about the diverse environmental majors and world-class learning opportunities available at the Commonwealth's flagship campus, visit our academic programs page.
  • Mass Envirothon Details: For more information regarding the 2026 current issue, "Living Sponge Communities," and details for the upcoming state competition on May 21, please visit the Massachusetts Envirothon website.
  • National Platform: Explore the broader impact of this program and the national competition at the NCF-Envirothon platform.