Riverbend Geographic Bee
What is the Geographic Bee?
The National Geographic Bee, an educational program of the National Geographic Society, is a nationwide geography competition for U.S. schools with any grades four through eight, designed to encourage the teaching and study of geography.
Who is Eligible?
ALL Riverbend students in grades four and five participate in the Geographic Bee at some level. The Preliminary Competition is held in each fourth and fifth grade classroom to determine a Class Champion who will go on to the Building Championship. When there are exactly five fourth and fifth grade classrooms, each classroom sends a total of two representatives. If there are more than five fourth and fifth grade classrooms, a Wild Card Run-off is held shortly before the Building Championship to fill the final (typically four) seats.
How do I Prepare?
The National Geographic Society has a great website with suggestions for studying for the Bee. Start studying now! It is helpful to know the names of states, capitals, countries, rivers, mountain ranges, etc. Play the GeoBee Challenge daily. GeoSpy is also one of many fun and interesting Internet geography games that will help you prepare for the Bee.
What Happens After the Riverbend Geographic Bee?
The winner of the Riverbend Geographic Bee gets to take a test! If he or she has one of the one hundred best scores in the state he/she is invited to Anchorage for the Alaska State Geography Bee in the spring. This is one of the few competitions the Juneau School District provides a teacher chaperone and airfare for qualifying students.
What Are Important Dates to Remember?
Classroom preliminary bees will take place between Thanksgiving and December 13th. 

The top two finishers from each fourth and fifth grade classrooms will advance to the School Championship, scheduled for 1:45 PM, Friday, December 14th in the Riverbend Library.

Riverbend’s champion will* take a qualifying test in early January, and if he or she is one of the top 100 finishers in Alaska, will qualify to advance to the state championship, on Friday, April 4th, in Anchorage.  (*if Riverbend's registration is processed on time. See Mrs. Wittig for details).

The winner of the Alaska Geographic Bee advances to the National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C. on May 20 & 21, 2008. 

Riverbend Geographic Bee Champions
1997-1998 Alan P.
1998-1999 J.J. C.
1999-2000 Ryan W.

(Ryan went on to win the Alaska State Geography Bee in 2002.)
2000-2001 Dustin M.
2001-2002 Davin C.
2002-2003 Cody G.
2003-2004 Kenneth G.
2004-2005 Edrick C.
2005-2006 Christopher M.
2006-2007 Amanda S.
2007-2008 Jamie B.
2008-2009 Brickie D.
Sheryl Hall Wittig ~ Page last updated on Thursday, December 11, 2008.