AN INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM: AQUACULTURE BOOT CAMP (ABC)

The Ohio Center for Aquaculture Research and Development (OCARD) at the Ohio State University, in partner with Ohio Aquaculture Association (OAA) and and other partners, has developed and operates the Aquaculture Boot Camp (ABC).  ABC program utilizes a "3-I" (Intensive, Intermediate, Introductory) training and multi-faceted approach, including classroom and hands-on training, paired with industry mentoring to enhance the sustainability of new and beginning aquaculture/aquaponic and next generation farmers in Ohio and the Midwest. OCARD is the first aquaculture unit that received this type of project from USDA in this country.

The ABC offers new and next generation farmers 3-I levels, 3 areas and 3 types of integrated training in aquaculture/aquaponic production and business management strategies. The "3-I levels" are: Intensive, an in-depth level involving immersion in a year-long hands-on training and classroom/mentoring program; Intermediate, a mid-level involving participation in a variety of learning activities and workshops; and Introductory, a general or entry level where sharing of information is the goal, and involving participation in the ABC-2 online education and webinars. The "3 areas" are general/traditional aquaculture, recirculating aquaculture/aquaponics, and related business and marketing. The "3 types" are hands-on, classroom/mentoring, and internet/webinar.

The ABC Phase I had been successfully completed during 2012 - 2015: the ABC intensive level met the original goal by recruiting and training 50 new and beginning aquaculture farmers in Ohio. After participation in two ABC intensive classes in 2013 and 2014, students, on a scale of 1 being strongly disagree and 4 being strongly agree, reported an average of 3.5 when asked if the program met their expectations, and they would recommend this program to their business partners or relatives. In addition, ABC intensive students self-assessed their knowledge prior to and after the monthly content was delivered. On a scale with 1 being low and 5 being high, the overall pre-test mean in 2013 was 2.48 and 1.88 in 2014. The post-test mean in 2013 was 3.97 and 3.80 in 2014. These results indicate that ABC students significantly increased their level of knowledge of the content addressed in the program. By the end of the ABC 1 project, twenty-four new businesses/farms were created by 2013 and 2014 year-class ABC Intensive graduates. At the end of ABC-1, the ABC Intermediate program surpassed the projected number of participants by 186.87%, and the Introductory program surpassed the participation goal by 557.10%. That means that 287 new and beginning farmers gained knowledge of aquaculture production and new technologies by participating in ABC Intermediate workshops and bus tours, and more than 5,000 participants gained new knowledge by accessing ABC Introductory, ABC website tools and information, ABC/OAA Newsletter and magazines. In addition, some participants or potential new farmers who are interested in aquaculture training experience received ABC and OAA internships and mentoring.

ABC Phase 2 has just been initiated and will be run for another three years.