140 high school students were at Spruce Woods Provincial Park this week gaining a better understanding on environmental issues.

The Southwest Regional Envirothon competition took place on Wednesday with the top three teams advancing to Provincials.

W.C. Miller Collegiate in Altona sent a team to the event for the first time ever. Teacher Bruce Friesen Pankratz shared why the school decided to participate.

"Our sustainable energy program, which is a vocational program at the school had been involved in some environmentally related projects in town. We thought we would extend that and make it a club or a group for students who may not be in our program. We started an eco club earlier this year and we are looking for thing to participate in as a team. We thought the Envirothon would be a neat team building opportunity."

Friesen Pankratz noted he hopes his students will gain more of an understanding of environmental issues and have a fun time.

Prairie Mountain High School in Somerset returned to the event for a second year. Agriculture Teacher Tess VanDeKerckhove said she hopes the event will give her students more of an appreciation for the environment.

"I'm just encouraging the kids to work as a team and have fun. Because we are fairly new still at competing in this, I don't expect huge grades. It is just more to take away the experience and hopefully gain more appreciation for the environment and sustainability so we can carry that back to the school and share it with others."

VanDeKerckhove stated Prairie Mountain continues to have trouble keeping it's students engaged in environmental activity.

Meanwhile, Nellie McClung Collegiate in Manitou also participated in the competition. Teacher Kent Lewarne highlighted the school's involvement in the program.

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Lewarne added typically Nellie McClung finishes in the top 3 in the region; adding they always have trouble knocking off Swan River at Provincials.

The 2015 Manitoba Envirothon will be held from May 21st to 23rd at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg.