Hot Springs students challenged to show geography knowledge

HOT SPRINGS – Hot Springs elementary and junior high students tested their knowledge of geography last week, during the Hot Springs Geography Bee.

There were 10 kids in the competition, with two each from grades fourth through eighth. In the end, fifth grader Austin Campbell came out on top as the school champion. According to Robin Miller, one of the hosts of the event, Campbell has one more written test to complete; if he passes, he will go to the state competition later this year.

As the competition got under way, the kids were given questions about geography in the United States as well as other parts of the world. The questions ranged from the location of certain places to the origins of a nickname, such as “Which state is known as the Peach State because peaches are one of its major crops:  Hawaii or Georgia?”

While most of the answers had to be given verbally, the kids were also given a white board for some questions. They were also given a folder with maps as a visual aid for some questions.

Except for an initial practice round, or where everyone got an answer wrong, after each question the kids who had an incorrect answer had to step down and take a seat.

In the end, the final three came down to Campbell as well as eighth graders Sage Jackson who claimed second place, and Saleh Bloodsaw. There was some nervous amusement from the kids during the semifinals, though, as they could not go down to two because they kept answering incorrectly; they went through numerous questions with either all or two of them getting the answer wrong.

There is no countywide geography bee competition; if Campbell passes the written test, he will represent the Hot Springs schools at the state competition in Billings.