The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (RSWCD) aims to empower teachers and informal educators in providing environmental education, and to educate and inspire students to become environmental stewards.
Borrow Educational Materials
We have various kits available for Richland County educators to borrow for a one-week period. Learn more about our educational materials.
Class and Youth Group Presentations
RSWCD offers a limited number of class presentations for Richland County preK-12 students on a number of conservation topics, including water quality, soil science, pollinator conservation, and forestry. Contact us at soilandwater@richlandcountysc.gov for more information.
Conservation Education Mini-Grants
Richland County public, private, and alternative schools are eligible to apply for up to $1,000 in grant funding to support conservation projects and youth environmental education initiatives. Learn more about our Conservation Education Mini-Grants program.
Environmental Educator Training
Project Learning Tree (PLT), Project WET, and Project WILD are award-winning international environmental educational curricula designed for teachers and informal educators who work with students from early childhood through high school. RSWCD facilitates PLT, Project WET, and Project WILD educator training in Richland County. Contact us at soilandwater@richlandcountysc.gov to request training for a group of teachers or informal educators.
Green Step Schools
Green Step Schools is a statewide recognition program designed to help South Carolina schools earn awards for establishing sustainability projects where students learn, do, and teach others. RSWCD staff mentor a variety of Green Step Schools projects at schools throughout Richland County. Visit Green Step Schools to learn how your school can become a Green Step School and contact us at soilandwater@richlandcountysc.gov for support.
Additional Resources
Check out our list of additional environmental education resources:
Are you a high school teacher or club advisor in Richland County? We want to help your students compete in the South Carolina Envirothon!
What is Envirothon?
Envirothon is an annual, hands-on environmental science competition for high school students in grades 9-12. Students work in teams of 3-5 (plus an optional alternate) and are tested on aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and a current environmental topic. Teams also give a short oral presentation as part of the competition.
Important Dates
- 2026 SC Envirothon: TBA
- Coaches’ Training Session: TBA
- 2026 Current Topic: TBA
How We Help
We offer financial assistance to support local teams.
Registration Fees
We cover registration fees for the first three teams from Richland County who submit their completed application packets to the SC Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR).
Coach Stipends
We provide a stipend of $500 to the first three Richland County team coaches who:
- Tell us they plan to participate (email us at soilandwater@richlandcountysc.gov)
- Attend the Coaches’ Training
- Submit a complete registration packet to SCDNR
- Bring a full team to the competition
Note:
- If your team has more than one coach, the $500 stipend will be split among the coaches.
- Coaches working with more than one team only qualify for one stipend.
Need Help Preparing?
We have a free Envirothon Training Trunk full of useful materials that teams can borrow for two weeks at a time. To borrow the trunk, email us at soilandwater@richlandcountysc.gov. Trunks are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Learn More
We are proud to offer these incentives to help Richland County students compete in the SC Envirothon. For more details on the competition, visit the SC Envirothon website. Contact Jessica Thompson at thompson.jessica@richlandcountysc.gov or 803-576-5464 to learn more about our incentives.
Envirothon
Envirothon is an annual, hands-on environmental science competition for high school students. Learn about the competition, how to participate, and the incentives we offer!
Youth Conservation Poster Contest
The National Conservation Poster Contest, sponsored annually by the National Association of Conservation Districts, promotes conservation through art. Each year, K-12 students compete for a chance to win local, state, and national prizes. RSWCD hosts the local competition. Details for the 2025-2026 Youth Conservation Poster Contest will be announced in August 2025.
Learn More
Contact Jessica Thompson at thompson.jessica@richlandcountysc.gov or 803-576-5464 to learn more about our environmental education programs.