2nd National Extension Nat Res Conference-Abstract 39

Barbara J. Speziale, Department of Biological Sciences, 132 Long Hall, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0326; 864.656.1550; bjspz@clemson.edu; Lansing Brewer, Kershaw County Cooperative Extension, P.O. Box 248, Camden, SC29020; James Cummings, Oconee County; Rockie English,Clemson University; Paulette Gay, Lexington County Cooperative Extension; Rhonda Matthews, Abbeville County Cooperative Extension; Verda Musie, McCormick County Cooperative Extension; Kellye Rembert, Richland County Cooperative Extension; Lou Robinson, Oconee/Pickens Counties Cooperative Extension; and Wallace Wood, McCormick County Cooperative Extension

Over the past 6 years, Clemson Cooperative Extension has partnered with community associations and state agencies to produce week-long, youth water quality education programs on lakes in South Carolina. These programs,4H20 - Pontoon Classroom, garner favorable attention and establish support for Cooperative Extension among a new clientele.

4H20 - Pontoon Classroom is a novel, community-supported and field-based program that provides children and adults with knowledge about their local water resources and teaches them field, analytical, and critical thinking skills needed to intelligently participate in making decisions that affect the quality of these environments.

Each 4H20 - Pontoon Classroom is produced as an independent community partnership. Most commonly, a local lake association is the community partner. Implementation of 4H20 - Pontoon Classroom melds the talents of Cooperative Extension county agents and specialists with the resources and good will of private citizens who live on or near reservoirs in South Carolina. Each program team consists of Extension agents, state agency representatives, and members of a local lake association. This team approach enhances the educational experience for the children and forges strong links between the partners.

A uniform curriculum is provided for the 4H20 - Pontoon Classroom programs. Each local program team adapts and adds to the curriculum to suit local needs and expertise. Common learning experiences include: exploring the local watershed, water chemistry testing, microscopic identification of invertebrates and algae, making and using Secchi disks, dissolved oxygen and temperature monitoring (including drawing a DO/Temperature profile of a stratified lake), and fish identification. Individual programs add canoeing, swimming, fishing instruction, and local field trips. All programs emphasize teaching science information and skills, in the guise of an enjoyable week on the lake.

Five programs in the summer of 1999 educated approximately 130 children, ages 8 - 14 (4th - 8th grade) and more than 50 adults who participated as volunteer pontoon boat pilots, instructors, and assistants. At least 7 programs are anticipated for the summer of 2000.

South Carolina's statewide structure for the 4H20 - Pontoon Classroom program can serve as a model for public-private partnerships for science-intensive, youth water quality education in other states.