Water: An Important Resource

Georgia is stepping up its efforts to do serious water planning. To help ensure a clean abundant water supply for the future, Mitchell County 4-H collaborated with other professional educational groups to educate 4-H youth, grades 5 through 12, about the importance of water to southwest Georgia. Three days packed full of educational and fun hands-on activities were held during the 9th Annual Mitchell County 4-H2O Day Camp. About 130 southwest Georgia 4-H'ers from 11 counties participated in activities focusing on water quality, water conservation, water usage, and global water issues. Scientists, researchers, and field-related personnel presented materials in an outdoor classroom setting. 4-H'ers enjoyed visits to the Flint RiverQuarium in Albany, the Stripling Irrigation Research Park near Camilla, the George Andrews Lock and Dam in Jakin and Water World in Dothan, Alabama as they learned the importance of irrigation and water conservation to agriculture and the importance of a clean water supply for recreational purposes in Southwest Georgia. Since 2008, a grand total of over $54,000, including grants, donations, and registration fees, has been secured to fund the Mitchell County 4-H2O Day Camp and over 960 4-H'ers from southwest Georgia have participated in the three-day water camp. “This camp gives them a background on the importance of water, protecting water, conserving water,” said the Stripling Irrigation Park Superintendent. “We want them to be good stewards of water.”