Be sure to check the Resources for Parents, Teachers and Students page for web sites and links to assorted activities for highly capable and motivated students.

Listed below are several scholastic competitions throughout the state of Washington. This list is compiled from the Washington Academic Skills Coalition Journal, Fall 2003. Contact the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association at www.wiaa.com for other competitions, more details and a calendar of events.

Academic Decathlon: 2003-04 Theme --- America: The Growth of a Nation. A ten-event research, study and competition, which includes math, science, language and literature, social science, fine arts and economics. Contact Vicki Lee, state director, (360) 491-2757, Vlee4Kids@aol.com. Website: www.usad.org.

Envirothon: A problem solving, natural resources program operated through Conservation Districts throughout the United States for high school students. Working in teams in five categories: water, soil, forestry, wildlife, and current environmental issues. Contact David Nygard, Thurston Conservation District, (360) 754-3588, dnygard@thurstoncd.com. Website: www.envirothon.org.

Future Problem Solving: Aspects of science, language arts, technology, drama, communication, math and many of the EALRs are integrated into the research and the six-step process of Future Problem Solving, along with creative, critical thinking and team work. Team and individual participation for grades 4 through 12. Contact Barbara Sailors, state director, (360) 675-1354, probsolv@whidbey.net.

History Day 2004: 2004 Theme -- Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History. Encouraging students and teachers in the excitement of historical inquiry and creative presentation. Students develop critical thing and problem solving skills. Individual or groups grades 6 through 12. Contact Merle Kunz, state coordinator, (509) 963-2422, kunzm@cwu.edu, hstryday@cwu.edu. Website: www.cwu.edu/history/hstryday.

Knowledge Bowl: An interscholastic academic competition in which team members answer questions in a round robin format in areas of math, science, history, language, the arts, sports, current events, geography, government, literature and general knowledge. Open to high schools in any participating ESD region. Contact Dale Croswell, state coordinator, (360) 817-4441, ext 2671, dale.croswell@camas.wednet.edu. Website: www.camas.wednet.edu/chs/club/kbowl/kbowlwa.html.

MATHCOUNTS: A national math coaching and competition program founded in 1983 by the National Society of Professional Engineers to promote middle school math achievement, stressing critical thinking and practical problem solving in addition to computational skills. Contact Robert Parnell, (425) 643-3560 - work, (425) 641-9215 - home, rmparnell@hotmail.com. Website: www.mathcounts.org.

Math Olympiad and High School Mathematics Contest: These contests are put on by Washington state math teachers and are closely related to the EALRs. For grades 6-12 (separate competitions for middle school and for high school). Contact Jim Miller, contest chair, (509) 674-2317, millerion@cleelum.com. Website: www.wsmc.net

Science Bowl: Created by the Department of Energy to encourage science education. In a question-and-answer format, students demonstrate their understanding of biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, earth science, general science and current events in a scientific and technological community. For middle school and high school students. Contact Beth Perry, director, DOE Regional Science Bowl, (509) 588-3901, bperry@owt.com. Website: www.hanford.gov/doe/sciencebowl; or Jason Hairston, director, BPA Regional Science Bowl, (360) 418-2906, jhairston@bpa.gov. Website: http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/education/science_bowl/.

Science Olympiad: A national program of academic, interscholastic competitions designed to increase student interest in science and improve the quality of science education. Contact Gina Lemberg, state director, (360) 944-7490, ginalemberg@comcast.net . Website: www.homepage.mac.com/wascioly/.

Science and Engineering Fair: Open to all students kindergarten through high school. For complete information, visit the website at www.wssef.org.

National Geography Bee: A geography contest for grades 4 through 8 that runs like a spelling bee designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography. Winners progress to state and national bowls. Contact contest organizers c/o National Geographic Society, 1145 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036-4688. Website: www.nationalgeographic.com/geographybee/index.

Destination ImagiNation: A nonprofit corporation offering a global, youth-centered, creative problem solving program. Tournaments are held at multiple locations for students at all levels. The Globals Finals Tournament will be in May 2004. Contact Barb Sailors, executive director (360) 675-1354, probsolv@whidbey.net. Website: www.dini.org.

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