Two-county 4-H20 program teaches respect for water
resources
The first North Carolina State University 4-H20
program -- which helped youth learn about the importance of water
resources by having them actually in and on local watercourses for
five 2005 summer days -- created a big splash.
The 18 youth -- ages 9 to 13 -- used
professional-quality equipment to gather data and make water quality
observations. They enjoyed hands-on activities such as canoeing,
pontooning, fish seining, macroinvertebrate collection and
identification, water-quality data collection, chemical analysis,
limnological sampling and construction of an apparatus for stream
clarity determinations.
Two N.C. Cooperative Extension agents borrowed the
on-the-water learning concept for this recent pilot project from the
Clemson University Cooperative Extension program and adapted
portions of it for North Carolina use. Lenny Rogers, Alexander
County Cooperative Extension director, and Tony Gallegos, Catawba
County environment and natural resources agent, coordinated the
project for their counties.
Here’s how the youth spent their days:
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Joint 4-H20 program in Alexander, Catawba counties
kept
the
kids busy with hands-on water-quality
research activities. |
Day 1: Learned about watersheds through games,
enviroscape model and notebooks; learned about local wetlands via a
nature walk through a living wetlands; and canoed in a slow-moving
tributary of Lake Hickory.
Day 2: Learned about stream macroinvertebrates
(water bugs) through a game, “Bio-Assess;” sampled the Muddy Fork
and the Lower Little River for macroinvertebrates; studied them,
placed them in specific categories and biologically assessed the two
streams’ water qualities.
Day 3: Collected four water samples (mountain
stream, valley creek, small river and pond); tested each for
temperature, pH, velocity, nitrate and dissolved oxygen; took other
chemical tests on phosphorus level, alkalinity, etc. at the
Extension Center at end of the day.
Day 4: Constructed turbidity tubes; on Lake
Hickory via pontoon boat took lake water samples at different depths
to measure dissolved oxygen and its temperature and clarity, took
bottom samples with the Eckman dredge, measured water clarity with
the secchi disk and collected plankton with a plankton tow net.
Day 5: Youth played water-quality bingo; seined in
Lake Hickory; met with state Wildlife Resource Commission biologists
Kevin Hining and Bob Brown and watched from the shore as the
biologists netted fish for observation. Kids got close-up to observe
the catch and learn about harmful non-native species, fish habitat
and fish biology. The fish were later released.
Youth gained increased knowledge and appreciation
of local water resources issues and had fun in the process, Rogers
said.
“They developed teamwork, leadership skills and
new friendships as they worked cooperatively with students from
outside their respective counties and peer groups,” Gallegos said.
The program also allowed Cooperative Extension
agents to cross county lines and area specialists to collaborate on
the project
“Equipment use out in the field was invaluable and
can’t be duplicated in the classroom,” said Rogers.
The Extension coordinators obtained several
in-kind resources: picnic shelters; stream, river and pond access
sites at multiple private locations; lake wildlife club building and
dock use. Both Cooperative Extension county offices contributed
additional sampling equipment and educational supplies. Free state
Department of Environment and Natural Resources outreach materials
specific to North Carolina enhanced the course.
The offices purchased seining and dip nets;
dissolved oxygen, alkalinity and pH meters; a dredge, plankton net,
water sampler, turbidity tube, hand lenses, six used canoes, canoe
trailer, tubs, hip boots and more.
All items are stored in Alexander and Catawba
counties for use in yearly 4H20 programming and for assorted
spin-off water-quality trainings and events. Plans are in the works
for continued 4H20 camps, Rogers said.
The kids had the following suggestions for
improvement: “Make the days longer; Add fishing and fish dissection.
The successful project was supported by a $5,000
Renewable Resources Extension Act Grant.
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