In 2019, efforts to focus on improving the water quality awareness and community education of our natural resource expanded to include all 8th grade students in Harrison County.  The program works to combine natural resource and environmental education with communications and leadership.  After applying for and receiving a 3M Corporate Grant in 2018, the council purchased water testing and marketing technologies that could be utilized for students in 8th grade to gain hands-on experience with our local water source, its importance, and the need for transformational action.  Life in the Licking River:  A Water Quality Study, is a program that consists of four classroom sessions preparing 8th grade science students to gather water and macroinvertebrate samples, and make environmental observations on several points of the Licking River.  The students would then participate in a single day field trip, testing the watershed at four separate points.  In conclusion, students gather and analyze data and findings, then present their report to the Harrison County School Board and local leaders.  The program combines science, natural resource, leadership, and communication programs together to create a wholistic activity where students can feel a direct connection to a part of our community.  The program is in its second year, and will continue each nine weeks during the school year with a new group of students.  Partnering teachers have described the 4-H and public school partnership and refreshing and exciting, providing an activity that allows students to see an action through from start to finish.  Efforts have expanded to provide additional 4-H programs and leaders the resources needed to duplicate in other counties within the state.  Workshops have been conducted at the National Association of Environmental Educators Conference, as well as the Kentucky 4-H Volunteer Forum.  We are looking forward to continuing the water quality study program, working to insure our main water source is protected in Harrison County.