An Overview of Three Aquatic Education Programs in Missouri Janice Schnake Greene Southwest Missouri State University

Colleen Merrigan, Ginger Gray, Brian Roddiger, Tim Wilson, Li’anne Drysdale, Gregg Krumme

Missouri Stream Teams: Environmental Knowledge and Attitudes Brian H. Roddiger

Introduction This type of program can be beneficial for curriculum development, outreach programs, outdoor skills improvement, special events, or interpretational programs. The program provides education about stream ecology, stewardship responsibility through a particular stream adoption, and advocacy to speak out and protect a stream in a public forum.

Study Purpose This study, conducted during Fall 1997 and Spring 1998, has assessed the effectiveness of the Stream Team Program in conveying positive environmental knowledge and attitudes to Missouri Public School students.

Instrument The survey used in this study modeled a portion of the Missouri Conservation Survey (Greene et al., 1997) and contained questions developed from the Stream Team training course. The 25 questions in the survey were grouped into environmental knowledge and environmental attitudes.

Methods Fifteen schools with Stream Teams in the state of Missouri were surveyed. Non-experienced individuals were compared to experienced individuals. Rural and urban schools and different schools were compared.

Methods (cont.) The total correct knowledge scores and total mean attitude scores were analyzed by ANOVA to determine the overall effects of the program. Each analysis was a univariate ANOVA with school nested under rural/urban, and both were crossed factors with non- experienced/experienced. The effects of rural versus urban and non- experienced versus experienced on the responses to individual questions were analyzed by logistic regression.

Demographic and experience background of the participants

Grade level distribution of non- experienced and experienced participants

Percent of correct knowledge questions

Analysis of variance for the total knowledge scores

Summary : Environmental Knowledge Five questions were significantly different (p < 0.05) between experienced and non-experienced students. The total knowledge scores for non- experienced and experienced individuals were significantly different (p < 0.00).

Mean attitude scores

Analysis of variance for the total attitude means

Summary: Environmental Attitudes Experienced individuals showed a more positive environmental attitude on all five questions. One of the five attitude questions were significantly different between experienced and non-experienced individuals (p < 0.05). The difference between the total mean attitude scores for non-experienced and experienced groups was significant (p = 0.039).

Conclusions Students exposed to Stream Teams curricula scored higher on sixteen out of twenty questions and the total knowledge scores were significantly different. Environmental attitude means were positive for both groups in this study ( > 3.5 on 5 point scale). The Missouri Stream Team Program is a successful program which has had a positive effect on its participants.

Evaluation of Educational Displays and Programs at the Roaring River Fish Hatchery Gregg Krumme

Roaring River Fish Hatchery Barry County, Missouri, within the RR State Park Fed by Roaring River Spring One of state’s oldest hatcheries Has been under the Missouri Department of Conservation direction since 1937 Produces between 165,000 and 210,000 pounds of rainbow trout along with several thousand brown trout Supported entirely by daily trout tags, no-creel permits, and fish food

Educational Focus Aquaculture and the role of fish hatcheries Fishing Skills Development of a Land Ethic Habitat Conservation

Daily Educational Opportunities Egg incubation building Educational signs Guided tours Evening nature programs Special programs

Goals of Study 1) Determine the amount of previous outdoor experiences of visitors 2) Evaluate use of educational materials, programs, and displays by the general public 3) Evaluate differences in environmental knowledge and attitudes of those who attended hatchery tours vs. those who did not attend tours 4) Make recommendations for future education efforts

Survey Methods As visitors left the hatchery area, they were asked to complete a questionnaire Visitors were randomly given one of two questionnaires –Hatchery Survey –Educational Survey

Questionnaire Development Hatchery Survey (10 multiple choice and 10 true/false) –Aquaculture/hatchery knowledge –Fish/fishing skills knowledge –General environmental knowledge –Environmental attitudes (5 Likert-scale questions) –Prior experiences –Demographics Educational Survey –Use of facilities – signage, tours, programs, educational material –Demographics

Results 218 Hatchery and 250 Educational Surveys were completed Approximate 1/3 participated in the hatchery tour

Results – Hatchery Survey Mean knowledge score was 11.8 correct responses of 20 possible Tour respondents knowledge was significantly higher (13.1) than non-tour respondents (11.2; p < 0.001) Mean knowledge score was 4.0 of 5.0 possible There was no significant difference between tour and non-tour respondents (p = 0.652)

Hatchery Survey Results Continued Males scored significantly higher than females on knowledge (p = 0.006) No significant differences between gender on attitude (p = 0.600) 30% had a high school diploma and 33% had a college degree

Results – Educational Survey 68% visited the park for a family outing; 40% to see the hatchery 36% were staying for less than 3 hours Most common use of educational resources –Pamphlets (72%) –Reading signs (53%) –Hatchery tour (43%)

Educational Survey Continued 31% preferred an education program of minutes 19% preferred minutes Suggested education programs –Underwater fish viewing (77%) –Hands-on/interactive displays (43%) Topics –Native animals (64%); How to fish (52%)

Acknowledgements 6 th and 12 th grade study – Missouri Department of Conservation, Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU), cooperating schools Stream Team study – SMSU, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, cooperating schools Roaring River Study – SMSU, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Department of Natural Resources