SOCOP Provides Service Opportunities for 4-H Water Ambassadors

The Southern Ogallala Conservation & Outreach Program (SOCOP) was created in 2007 as an education cooperative serving Gaines, Terry, and Yoakum Counties in west Texas. Their mission is "Educating communities today to save water tomorrow!" SOCOP's Education Coordinator Michelle Cooper provides education to kids and adults throughout their service region with funding provided by South Plains UWCD, Llano Estacado UWCD, and Sandland UWCD.

In addition to being a sponsor of the Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors Program, SOCOP has been very supportive of water ambassadors Macy Downs and Riley Calk, providing several opportunities for these ladies to get involved in water education activities. Recently Macy and Riley worked with Ms. Cooper at the Yoakum County Conservation Jamboree, where they educated local 5th graders using SOCOP's water education trailer.

I encourage you to seek out those in your communities who do water/natural resource education, and offer your assistance. This is a fantastic way to learn more about water and develop your leadership and presentation skills along the way!

Riley Calk and Macy Downs assist SOCOP with water education at Yoakum County Conservation Jamboree.

Riley and Macy have also promoted water conservation in their local schools. They placed "turn off the tap" stickers on all bathroom mirrors at Denver City elementary and primary schools. This is a fantastic idea. Free stickers are available through Texas Commission Environmental Quality's Take Care of Texas web site http://takecareoftexas.org/publications.

Riley and Macy post stickers in school bathroom mirrors.