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Andrew Little, Ph.D., CWB^®

Assistant Professor of Landscape and Habitat Management

SNR Extension Coordinator

School of Natural Resources

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Environmental and Natural Resources

Career Development Event

Credit: Lynn Betts, USDA

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Outline

Overview of Event

Purpose and exam structure
Annual theme and event schedule
Objectives
Scoring

Helpful Resources
Questions

Credit: Lynn Betts, USDA

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Overview of Event

Purpose: The Environmental and Natural Resources CDE is designed to provide individuals

with basic knowledge and skills necessary to take advantage of wildlife, ecosystem. soil, water and waste management career opportunities

Environmental and Natural Resources CDE contains 3 elements:

Individual multiple choice test focusing on invasive and native species, habitat management, food webs and ecosystem properties, soil, water and waste management.
Individual Nebraska species identification test using a collection of tracks, pelts, scat, photos and other identifying factors.
Team activity on data interpretation and decision making related to the year’s theme

Key: Individual Exam and Team Exam

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Annual Theme

Credit: USDA-NRCS, Tim Lumley / Flickr, and Wikimedia Commons

Soil & Water

2019 & 2022

2020 & 2023

Water & Wildlife

2021 & 2024

Soil & Wildlife

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Event Schedule

2 rotations of 45 minutes each:

1 - 45 minute rotation will be for individual activities
1 - 45 minute rotation will be for team activities

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Event Schedule

Individual Exam (45 minutes):

50 multiple choice questions (40 minutes)
10 species identification questions (5 minutes)

(Note: 30 seconds allowed per species station)

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Event Schedule

Team Exam (45 minutes):

25 multiple choice questions

Note: Students work as a team (representing their school) on various scenarios to identify the best possible solution to the problem, based on their knowledge of environmental and natural resources topics

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Environmental and Natural Resources CDE �Individual Exam Objectives

Explain the hydrologic cycle and how water moves through the cycle
Interpret the nitrogen cycle
Apply knowledge of land capability class, soil classification, and physical properties such as structure, texture, permeability, and slope while correctly using soil vocabulary
Apply knowledge of waste management as it relates to surface and groundwater and soil nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrates, nitrites and pH
Identify the tracks, pelts, scat, photos and other identifiers of a variety of plant and animal species found in Nebraska. Identify invasive species and explain how they affect the natural environment
Describe climate effects on agriculture, water and wildlife
Analyze private land conservation scenarios to develop solutions that increase conservation while remaining profitable

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Environmental and Natural Resources CDE �Team Exam Objectives

Apply knowledge of land capability class, soil classification, and physical properties such as: structure, permeability, and slope
Read, find information, and use data from a soil survey (online version printed to hard copy or book) in a given scenario
Using specific data and waste allowances as related to surface and groundwater and soil nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrates, nitrites and pH, select the best solution to a given scenario
Understand how to run and read the following tests for water quality: nitrites, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, pH, phosphates, water hardness, chlorine, ammonia and the current temperature
Make decisions about habitat suitability including suggestions for how the habitat can be improved given information regarding specific species habitat requirements

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Overview of Event

Scoring

Individual Exam
Written Exam	50 questions x 3 points	150 points
Species Identification	10 specimens x 5 points	50 points
Total Score		200 individual points

Team Exam
Total of 4 individual exam scores	4 exams x 200 points	800 points
Team Scenario Activity	25 questions x 4 points	100 points
Total Score		900 team points

Benefit is to have 4 team members

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Overview of Event

Scoring—Tiebreaker

Individual Exam:

Highest Exam Score
Highest Identification Score
Scores on most difficult individual exam questions (determined by number of all students successful on that question)

Team Exam:

Highest Team Activity Score
Highest combined identification score (all 4 team members)
Highest combined scores on most difficult individual exam questions (determined by number of all students successful on that question)

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Helpful Resources

CDE Appendices 1-3 (Species ID, Individual, and Team Exams)
National FFA Past Exams with Keys
Managing Our Natural Resources. Camp and Daughtery. Delmar Publishers, Inc. 2009. Albany NY.
Species ID with Nebraska specific species (refer to Appendix 1 of CDE Manual)