“I didn’t expect to be shouting tree species’ names at 7 a.m., but that’s how the Envirothon competition began,” freshman Luna Kim said.

Making an impact, the Portola Envirothon Club made its first debut at the 2025 NCF-Envirothon. As they put the rigor and experience of their first competition under their belt, the club walked out with triumph as they displayed a hard-earned second place in the state.

Envirothon is an international environmental science competition that pushes students to master key environmental topics — forestry, soil, wildlife and aquatics — while tackling a unique annual theme. The year’s focus was “fire stewardship.” Students must not only study specific ecosystems, but also understand how fire plays a role in their survival, health and restoration.

Five Portola High students competed against eight other teams at the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District. To prepare, they held daily hour-long study sessions, diving into dense scientific resources, tackling complex environmental scenarios and sharpening their teamwork by cooperatively familiarizing themselves in the field of study.

“The preparation was intense,” said vice president and junior Luna Moon. “We’d quiz each other on bird calls, soil textures and even tree heights. It wasn’t just studying — it was training.”

During the tournament, each team rotated through hands-on testing stations with experiments for them to conduct and interpret, displaying their knowledge as they identified bird species by song, measured tree diameters and analyzed soil samples. The challenge culminated in a 20-minute presentation to officials at the California Department of Forest and Fire Protection, where teams unveiled detailed fire stewardship plans that balanced ecological, economic and cultural perspectives.

Despite their nerves, the team impressed the judges with their thoughtful solutions and collaborative energy, earning them a spot in the finals — and ultimately, a silver finish.

Additionally, physics teacher Charity Lizardo was present to guide the team and worked alongside the members.

“I think [the competition] taught them a lesson to not only be more prepared for the types of things they’re going to be seeing, but also be more confident and know that they have it in them to make it to the finals,” said Lizardo.

Now, the club is already setting its sights on next year.

“We’re more motivated than ever,” said president and junior Bryan Woo. “This experience showed us how much power students have when we come together to protect this planet. We’re aiming for the first [place] next year.”

For the Envirothon club, this competition was more than just a test — it was a journey of discovery, teamwork and environmental passion. Along the way, they built more than knowledge; they built a community driven by shared passion.

“I still might not know how to pronounce phytoremediation, but I do know this: the mud, sweat, and brain strain were worth every second,” said Kim.