York County Conservation District

Thank you to our many sponsors of the 2026 York County Envirothon.

Featured here are sponsors that donated at the $500 level and above to help make the Envirothon available at no-cost to York County students.

Now that the dust has settled, we are happy to announce that the 2026 Envirothon season was a great success again this year!🎉

We had over 150 teams participate in our 41st Envirothon season.

York Suburban represented York County at the PA Envirothon competition and placed 14th out of over 60 teams.

We are beyond grateful for the students, coaches, volunteers, and sponsors that helped make this event happen.

The healthier the soil, the more microorganisms it can support, along with greater diversity that helps cycle nutrients and support plant growth. In poor soils, both the number and variety of microorganisms drop, which weakens the soil system and reduces its ability to support healthy plants. 🪱🤎

It takes over 100 years to form just 1 inch of topsoil.🌱📅

This rate depends on several factors, including parent rock material, climate and weathering conditions, organic material accumulation, vegetative cover and land use, and biological activity like worms, fungi, and microbes.

In areas with rich biological activity and moisture, topsoil might form in 100 years. In dry, cold, or heavily disturbed regions, it may take 500 to even 1000 years!

Soil is a living and slowly renewing resource. Protecting what we have is much easier than rebuilding what we lose.

Agricultural conservation practices like planting cover crops and reducing soil disturbance help keep soil in place, prevent erosion, increase farm productivity and profitability, and protect nearby habitats. 🌾🚜🧑‍🌾

Conservation districts work with local farmers and producers to implement soil health practices on their lands!

Soil is made up of layers! These layers can be hundreds and thousands of years old. When digging into soil, you are literally digging into history. Every layer tells a story; it’s like the earth’s own natural history book.

🌱 Topsoil – Where plants grow and roots live
💧 Subsoil – Stores water and nutrients
🪨 Parent Material – Pieces of rock breaking down
🟫 Bedrock – The solid rock below all layers

Plant roots and soil work together to support plant growth. Roots take in water and nutrients, help hold soil in place, and work with tiny organisms in the soil. As roots break down, they add organic matter back into the soil, helping keep it healthy and productive.

Celebrate with us! This week, we are talking about the importance of . Follow along with us to learn about soil types across regions, the layers of soil, and more.

This year’s topic, , reminds us that soil is the foundation for all life on the land – plants, animals, and people! 🌱

Congratulations to the York Suburban Mister Minks for their victory at the 2026 Senior High York County Envirothon!🎉

They will proceed to the Pennsylvania Envirothon on May 20 where they will compete against the best and brightest Envirothon students from across the state.

Thank you to all of the students, coaches, sponsors, partners, & volunteers that made this event possible.

Are you looking for a job in an environmental field? Join our Team!

We are now hiring the following positions:

-Erosion & Sediment Control Technician 1

-Watershed Technician

Visit our website to learn more and apply.

Jobs - York County Conservation District Browse conservation jobs at the York County Conservation District and apply to join our team of natural resource conservation professionals.