Engaging Students Via Outreach Programs In Urban Water Conservation.

The University of Georgia’s Public Service and Outreach’s Scholarship of Engagement (SOE) Grants Program supports faculty-led service learning projects for UGA students.  This program supports projects that involve academically-based activities that extend learning beyond the classroom and encourage students to reflect on their academic, personal, and civic growth through writing and other reflective strategies.  A SOE project was funded in 2011 and the objectives of this project were to:

• Engage students in discussions of topics on environmental protection with emphasis on water conservation in residential landscapes.
• Engage students in planning extension workshops on topics to include  BMPs in Residential Landscapes and Water Conservation with Rainwater Harvesting Systems.
• Assist students with assigned lecture topics and hands-on segments.
• Ensure active participation.

This project represented a pro-active approach in bringing awareness and training UGA students to implement the wealth of research and applied information while educating local consumers to include homeowners and commercial landscapers on subjects relating to water conservation in order to become better water stewards.