Keowee Springs

Cliffs Residents Outreach (CRO) provides resources and funding for student-centered projects designed to support lifelong success for local children, many of whom are economically and socially challenged. Funded by Cliffs property owners and corporate partners and managed by a resident board of volunteers, Cliffs Residents Outreach is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Each Cliffs community has its own chapter and operates independently. Springs CRO supports Six Mile Elementary (SME), Central Academy of the Arts Magnet Elementary (CAC), R.C. Edwards Middle School (RCE) and D.W. Daniel High School (DWD)and their 3,000 students. In addition, Springs CRO supports the Six Mile Recreation Center and Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The Springs CRO enlists resident Springs volunteers to engage in fundraising, mentoring and tutoring activities.

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Overview

 
 
The Springs CRO Council’s fundraising efforts center on its annual auction. During the 2025 – 2026 fundraising cycle, the Council raised over $400,000 from all sources and approved grants to support high-value educational initiatives. Effective January 1, 2026, the CRO shifted its financial reporting structure from an academic-year to a calendar-year cycle.
 
Funds were used to purchase books, software and computer equipment for the schools’ four media centers, upgrades to the Pickens County School District Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) mobile laboratory, swim lessons, field trips, special author appearances, outdoor education, and scholarships for graduating seniors. The Springs CRO’s volunteer mentoring and tutoring program also provides significant value to the community.
 

Our Funding Focus

Literacy

The 2026 school year has seen great strides in the pursuit of literacy. Our funds helped schools succeed in the following ways.

  • Provided for the completion of Phase I of the renovation and reimagining of the Library Learning Commons at DW Daniel High School. The additional furniture and materials to complete the project have been ordered and are expected to arrive this summer. Students and Faculty alike have increased their usage of the space by more than 100% since the changes have been implemented.
  • Colorful bins have been purchased for the non-fiction section of the Six Mile Elementary library, allowing students easier access to the books and generating more interest in the titles.
  • Our Read with the Dog program has proven to be a huge success with both reluctant and proficient readers.  Countless studies have shown that reading to an animal creates positive feelings about reading.  Each child leaves with a book signed by their reading buddy.  This  past year we had 2 dogs and in the coming year, we anticipate having 3 dogs.  The response from teachers, parents and students has been overwhelming.
  • As always, our literacy funding has provided hundreds of books to each of the 4 schools we support.  New titles of high interest, as well as those supporting the curriculum, continue to allow our 4 Media Centers to increase the level of their standing under South Carolina Academic Standards.
  • Both elementary schools had visits from authors this year.  Everyone in the school read the same book (different levels of each story were provided) and discussed the story. 
  • The One Book One School program unites all readers.  Students were encouraged by these authors to read and write their own stories.  The impact of seeing a real person rather than just a name on the book creates high interest and excitement.
  • This year our RC Edwards Middle students competed in the Battle of the Books against six other middle schools.  Students read 12 different books form the South Carolina Junior Book Awards titles and compete against other teams by answering questions about the book.  Questions involve not only the names, places and action of the story, but require students to extrapolate themes, foreshadowing, ethical implications, cultural distinctions, etc.
  • Eighth grade students at RC Edwards Middle (RCE) selected a book that they would like to see in the library.  Through the generous donations of our membership, each child leaving RCE was provided with a book of their choice that included a book plate stating that the book was provided to the library as a legacy of that child attending RCE.
  • Robots continue to be used at all schools integrating literacy and STEM.
  • Central Academy of the Arts traveled to the auditorium at DW Daniel High to see a live performance of the wonderful and timeless Charlotte’s Web.This opportunity illustrates another variation on literacy: fostering vocabulary, empathy, perspective, fluency, an understanding of narrative, cause and effect and much more.

Mobile STEM Lab (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics)


This year, the Mobile STEM Lab brought engaging, hands-on STEM experiences to 10 schools across the Pickens County School District (PCSD). Nearly 6,000 students were served by this outstanding teaching and engagement tool that addresses real-world technical developments and issues.

The program has four goals, which include…

  • Increasing STEM access across all PCSD schools
    • 10 schools were visited; 6,000 students engaged
  • Boosting student engagement with hands-on STEM
    • Feedback was used to refine activities which included real- world challenges
  • Extended learning through iTECH
    • Ready-to-use lessons, teacher usage reservation system
  • Promoting innovation and future-ready skills
    • Tech tools including robotics, programming, engineering drawings, virtual reality

Career Cafe

Springs CRO launched the Career Café Program for DW Daniel High School students in Spring 2023 to help students connect future career possibilities with their academic focus today. In partnership with the school’s career development counselor, volunteers lead informal monthly lunchtime sessions that introduce students to a range of career paths.

During the 2025–2026 school year, featured speakers included Keowee Springs member volunteers, two CRO corporate sponsors, and a Daniel alumnus. Together, they introduced students to careers in engineering, radiology, white-collar investigations, sales, pharmaceutical quality control, entrepreneurship, and commercial banking. To support participation, Springs CRO also provided lunch for up to 50 students at each session.

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Mentoring, Tutoring & Volunteering

Mentoring

During the 2025–2026 school year, the Springs CRO Mentoring Program maintained 45 to 50 trained and approved mentors. These mentors supported students from Six Mile Elementary (SME), RC Edwards Middle (RCE)and DW Daniel High School (DWD) as well as students who transferred to other district schools after being matched with a mentor. Springs continues to have the largest number of active mentors among all Cliffs communities and across the Pickens, Powdersville, and Anderson YMCA coverage area. The Springs CRO Council works closely with the YMCA Mentor Director and Mentor Coordinator to support and strengthen their program.

Tutoring and Volunteering

The Springs Tutoring and Volunteering Program responded to requests from multiple school administrators throughout the year. Volunteers provided weekly support for students at SME, supported four classrooms at Central Academy of the Arts, assisted RCE with end-of-quarter after-school tutoring, and expanded SME’s reading-support program, where students read to certified therapy dogs accompanied by their Keowee Springs owners. Volunteers also supported multiple schools by providing test monitors, as needed.

Our Tutoring and Volunteering Program includes more than 80 approved volunteers, many of whom also serve as mentors. New and existing Springs community members continue to get involved as they learn about CRO and its in-school programs through ongoing social media updates, in-person informational open houses, and one-on-one meetings with new members.

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News

CRO Volunteers Are An Everyday Presence In Schools

Did you know that Springs CRO does much more than fundraise? We currently have 80 volunteers who lend their time to the four schools Springs CRO supports: Six Mile Elementary, Central Academy of the Arts, RC Edwards Middle and DW Daniel High.  Volunteers engage with students in a wide variety of ways, such as reading with students, tutoring math, assisting in the schools’ media centers, helping teachers on testing days, and chaperoning school dances and field trips. Volunteering is a great way to learn about our larger community and can be tailored to your interests.

Central Academy Creates Art From Around The World

With funding from Springs CRO, Central Academy of the Arts opened its doors so parents of students could admire and participate in projects that students had been working on for their “Arts from Around the World” unit. The art projects were integrated activities that classroom teachers did with students. Students and teachers created displays and performances representing art forms in various global locations. On the night of the event, families visited classrooms and joined in fun arts activities that celebrated different countries and cultures.

Springs CRO Upgrades School Libraries With New Book Purchases

 

Each year, Springs CRO buys new books for the schools it supports, with the goal of improving student literacy and bringing the ratings of school libraries up to standard. Springs CRO also has funded the redesign of school media centers to encourage greater student use.

Special Education Students Rewarded For Performance

 

DW Daniel special education students are expected to attend daily classes, practice good hygiene, dress appropriately, and pass their elective courses in order to graduate on time and be career-ready. Springs CRO has approved funds for small rewards on Fridays, such as food treats, that will reinforce positive outcomes and motivate this group of 20 students to do their best every day.

Locking Press Booth Acquired For Six Mile Rec Department

To supplement other improvements to the Six Mile Rec facility at Ponderosa Park, Springs CRO has funded the purchase of a locking press booth.  The booth will be used to store first aid and AED equipment, PA equipment and a weather horn for emergencies and inclement weather.  Equipment is accessible via a digital keypad lock, so coaches and other trusted individuals can access it as necessary.

Executive Chef Shares Culinary Journey At Career Café

 This March speaker at Career Café was James London, a Daniel HS graduate and now Executive Chef and Owner of Chubby Fish restaurant in Charleston. James shared his professional journey with students, discussing why he chose a culinary career over pursuing music. He also responded to many great questions about starting his own restaurant, selecting its location and menu, and the way he has approached business decisions that have contributed to his award-winning restaurant.

Springs CRO supports Jocassee Wild Outdoor Education

Springs CRO has donated funds to Jocassee Wild Outdoor education program. Through the program, students in grades 3-7 get to experience firsthand what they learn in the classroom and witness natural phenomena in a pristine environment.  Students learn about Jocassee Gorges as a unique and critically important ecoregion.  Topics include the features of a temperate rainforest, natural habitats for flora and fauna, bird migration, rock form ation, plant species unique to the lake, ecology and hydroelectric power. and much more. For many participants, this is their first boat trip and first encounter with a large lake. The goal is to inspire youth in Pickens and Oconee Counties to form a deep, long-lasting connection to wilderness areas and to preserve these places for generations to come.  

Visiting Authors Engage with Students at Central Academy

Langston Moore and Preston Thorne, two former University of South Carolina football players, shared their experiences with students at Central Academy of the Arts through their powerful children’s book titled Just a Chicken.  Digital copies of the book were provided to each student and hard copies provided to the school’s media center.  

Thanks to the generosity of Springs CRO donors, every child participated in a full day of assemblies, classroom read-alouds and discussions.   Fifth grade families enjoyed a special lunch and the opportunity to engage with the authors, providing an exciting and meaningful literacy experience.  Events such as this one assist students in understanding how reading and writing connect to real life through perseverance, hard work and using their voices.

RC Edwards Competes in Battle of the Books

Seven Middle Schools from Pickens County recently faced off in the Battle of the Books.  The team from RC Edwards Middle School competed in a rapid-fire question and answer session concerning more than a dozen books.  Woodsong, Bridge to Teraabithia, Al Capone Does My Shirts, Project Mulberry, the Wednesday Wars and Justin Morgan Had A Horse are just a few of the titles the students had to familiarize themselves with regarding plot, historical significance, theme, foreshadowing, different cultures and more.  With funding from Springs CRO, RC Edwards was the catalyst for this wonderful opportunity allowing readers to showcase their abilities.

 

STEM Van Provides iTECH Program for Class Activity

Following a regular visit from the Mobile Learning Lab (STEM van), a third grade teacher at McKissick Academy in Easley leveraged its iTECH rental program use Ozobots for a class activity. The third graders coded Ozobots in a lesson on life cycles. STEM van materials are funded by Springs CRO.

Ozobots are tiny, programmable robots designed for K-12 education to teach coding and STEM skills. They navigate using sensors to follow black lines and read color-coded commands drawn on paper or screens. Ozobots are used to introduce students to logic and programming.

Springs CRO Supports Daniel Olympics

The annual Daniel Olympics was another heartwarming success last Friday. It was a great opportunity to celebrate and support 38 special education students and teachers from Six Mile Elementary, Clemson Elementary, and Central Academy. The students participated in five events and all earned medals for their efforts. Volunteer students from Daniel High School’s Civic Responsibility class and sports teams, directed by Dr. Tommy Plumblee, ran the event. Springs CRO provided box lunches for the students, teachers and participants.

Book Bins Encourage More Reading

 Beautiful new navy colored book bins have arrived at the Six Mile Elementary Media Center! The bins allow younger students greater freedom to browse the school’s wonderful selection of nonfiction titles.  Enthusiasm for the bins has been contagious! Recent educational studies show that young children are more likely to continue looking for a book of interest when they can view the covers. The book bins were acquired with funds from Springs CRO, continuing our efforts to foster a love of reading for all students.

Trade School Grads Receive CRO Scholarships

On May 8, five outstanding students from the Pickens County Career & Technology Center were selected by their instructors to receive privately funded CRO scholarships valued at $1,000 each.  The donors were a generous Springs couple who wanted to properly equip the top graduates in each of the five disciplines – welding, electricity, plumbing, construction and automotive – as they start their working careers. The scholarships took the form of toolboxes whose components were selected by the appropriate instructors.

CRO Funds 10 Scholarships to Daniel HS Graduates

 Each year, Springs CRO funds small scholarships to DW Daniel students who might otherwise be unable to bridge a gap for college expenses.  Scholarships were just awarded to 10 students through a selection process that is managed by the head of the Counseling Department and two of the Assistant Principals.  The schools they will be attending are Newberry College, Erskine University, University of SC, Anderson University (2), North Greenville University and various technical schools.  This year’s group includes two who are the first in their families to graduate high school and six who will be the first to attend college.

Videos

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Mentoring, Tutoring and Volunteering

The Springs CRO Mentoring Program maintained 45-50 trained and approved mentors throughout the 2024-2025 school Mentors support students from SME, RCE, and DWD HS, as well as students who have moved to other area schools in the district.

Springs continues to have the largest number of active mentors across all the Cliffs communities and throughout the Pickens, Powdersville, and Anderson YMCA coverage area. The Springs CRO Council works closely with the YMCA Mentor Director and Mentor Coordinator.

Watch The Springs CRO Mentoring Videos

For more information about volunteering or mentoring, please contact Patty Stevens at Pkrstephens@gmail.com.

Tutoring and Volunteering

The Springs Tutoring and Volunteering Program responded to requests from school administrators for various programs throughout the school year and met weekly with kids at SME and RC Volunteers periodically supported two classrooms at Central Academy of the Arts and the Media Specialist at DWD in her strategic plan to transform the library. At SME, a weekly program was added which allowed students struggling with reading to read to one of two certified therapy dogs, accompanied by their owners from Keowee Springs.

Our Tutoring and Volunteering Programs had 60 volunteers (half of whom are also mentors).

New and existing Springs community members continue to get involved as they become familiar with the CRO and its in-school programs via our ongoing social media updates, in-person informational open houses, and one-on-one meetings with new members.

Presenting Corporate Partner

CRO is grateful for the ongoing generous support of our Corporate Partners which plays an important part in reaching our goals. Please support them if you are in need of their goods or join us in thanking them for their commitment to our mission!

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For information about becoming a Corporate Partner, please contact Scott Wallace

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