Duke Energy’s Lee Steam Station has been partnering with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the South Carolina Department of Education and Palmetto Middle School to develop an environmental education opportunity.  “Education’s Better Outdoors” is an innovative partnership between the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDOE).  South Carolina Superintendent of Education, Dr. Jim Rex, and SCDNR Director, John Frampton, conceived this idea after they both agreed that students nationwide are disconnected from the outdoors and they realized they could do something to help.

At Palmetto Middle School, wildlife, natural resources, outdoor skills (hunting, fishing, shooting, kayaking, etc.) and conservation education concepts are integrated into all areas of education. The project goals are to: 1) Improve student achievement, behavior, critical thinking skills and ability to problem solve; 2) Change student attitudes and behaviors towards natural resources, fish, wildlife, outdoor activities and conservation, and; 3) Increase student participation in outdoor skills activities including hunting, shooting, fishing, kayaking, hiking, etc.                                                                           
 
Duke Energy has donated almost $10,000 towards this project and has provided additional funding over the past several years to the Palmetto Middle School specifically for the Lee station-Palmetto Middle school nature trail environmental education initiative. This funding is used to provide field trip and after-school program transportation for students and for classroom supplies such as weather stations, laptop computers for field data entries, and field microscopes. In addition to funding, Duke Energy’s Lee Steam Station developed an outdoor classroom that Palmetto Middle School and SCDNR use for after-school programs, teacher trainings and science field trips. The outdoor classroom provides students and teachers the opportunity to try outdoor activities such as fishing, kayaking and hiking. There is a butterfly garden, a plethora of different bird boxes, and stations to learn about fish, tree identification, and wildlife and other natural resources.
 
The main Lee Steam Station staff coordinating the project is Marcus Pitts, Stan Henderson and Debbie Leopard.  Together with a host of volunteers from the Station, they have the passion, creativity and dedication to develop activities that promote learning in a fun environment. 
 
In 2009, Lee Steam Station’s Outdoor Classroom Project was certified as a W.A.I.T (Wildlife and Industry Together) site by the South Carolina Wildlife Federation.  For all of their efforts, Lee Steam Station was also nominated and selected to receive the Federation’s 2009 Industrial/Commercial Conservationist Award.