About

What is Extension?

Cape Cod Cooperative Extension is the education department for Barnstable County. CCCE educates the public on topics as diverse as tick bite prevention, household hazardous waste, food safety, aquaculture and much, much more. CCCE is part of national educational system, developed to convey research-based knowledge from Land Grant Universities (in CCCE’s case, UMASS Amherst), to the general public. Extension programs are conducted in Barnstable County in cooperation with the staff at the University of Massachusetts, and Woods Hole Sea Grant Program at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Who We Are

Cape Cod Cooperative Extension encompasses scientists, educators, administrative staff, and volunteers, all working to provide solutions for your life. Whether you need to know how to grow a native plant garden, cook with local shellfish, or develop a youth leadership program, Barnstable County’s Extension Service has the answers. The Extension staff serve as a direct link with the University of Massachusetts and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution-Sea Grant programs, where new research findings are translated into practical applications to be shared with people and community officials through workshops, conferences, field demonstrations, technical assistance, newspaper articles, radio and television and the internet. Publications, such as regular newsletters, and booklets, fact sheets, and home study courses bring information directly to those who want and need it.

Our Mission

Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of youth, families, and communities; conserve and enhance natural and marine resources and strengthen agriculture and food systems. Educational outreach efforts emphasize practical and impactful solutions that improve life quality for residents, families, small businesses and communities; protects water resources and environmental systems; and enhances the agriculture and aquaculture industries of Barnstable County.

History

The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 established the Cooperative Extension Service, a partnership between land grant colleges nationwide, as a means for disseminating and implementing research-based information from land-grant universities, including the University of Massachusetts. The transfer of knowledge from the university to people throughout the state is facilitated by “Extension” faculty located throughout the state. This partnership between counties and the university is the heart of the Cooperative Extension mission and enables the university to extend its knowledge base to each community.