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Each year, the nationally recognized organization, AmeriCorps, offers opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities. AmeriCorps was originally launched in 1990 by then President George H. Bush, and operates through a network of partnerships with both local and national nonprofit groups. This year, Simone Owens answered the call to service and with the help of Nancy Veal, the Kenai Peninsula 4-H Youth Development agent. Veal wrote a proposal with the concept of promoting community members to be involved in healthy activities. Under the backdrop of 4-H, and to celebrate National 4-H Week October 4th-10th, Owens assisted with the activities at the annual 4-H Fall Fun day. The event was held at the UAF offices on K-Beach Rd. with Owens' offering a bio-fuel demonstration. "The stereotype is that you have to be involved with agriculture to be involved with 4-H, but it's so much broader than that as my scientific bio-fuel experiment demonstrates. You can also get involved with robotics through 4-H, movie making, even hunting. It's really what you want to make happen through 4-H, which all works together to improve the quality of life in our community, and that's AmeriCorps primary purpose," explained Owens. To expand upon her service, the AmeriCorps member will also be working in school classrooms throughout the local area as well.

The Fall Fun Day that Owens participated in with 4-H, marked four generations of fun on the Kenai Peninsula tied to his annual event. As a volunteer with this year's Fall Fun Day, Forest Nelson recalled the mud slide they built at the mouth of the Kenai River when she was a little girl tied to the event. "It's real mucky there with natural hills that made it like a rollercoaster. We got mud in our ears and in places we never did think we'd get clean. No one tried to wash the clothes we were wearing, we just threw them away," laughed Nelson. The primary purpose of the 4-H Fun Day was to expose the public to the wide variety of family-based programs available to 4-H members. "4-H isn't someplace you drop your kids off at and then come back to pick them up. 4-H brings learning experiences for the parents as well, and the outcome are responsible young people who grow up to appreciate their community and make good life decisions," said Nelson.

Twelve year old Elyssa Barkman was at the Fun Day playing with her Golden Retriever puppy named "Josh". But since Josh is training to be a Guide Dog, as soon as Elyssa stopped playing with her puppy and put his Guide Dog-In-Training jacket on, the pair became all business. "He's ten and half months old now, and sometimes he's quite a handful and has his moments. He loves to play, and he does really well when he's under control wearing his jacket. But as soon as the jacket comes off, he knows it's play time," says Elyssa who has been working with Josh since he as eight weeks old. In the next year, Barkman will continue to condition and train Josh for his life as a Guide Dog. As a home school student, Elyssa is with Josh pretty much 24/7. "He goes to the store when I go, he goes to basketball games, concerts, and wherever I go, he goes learning to respond to my commands right away. We've gotten to be good friends and it'll be hard to give him up in a year. But I know what he'll mean to a person waiting for a Guide Dog, and that makes it okay," said Elyssa. Her proud father said it's all about commitment, consistency and learning to follow through with a project. "In many ways, the daughter is being trained as much - if not more than, the dog in life skills like personal self control, and commitment. We're all growing through this 4-H project," said Mr. Barkman. For more information about AmeriCorps or 4-H programs, get in touch with Simone Owens or Nancy Veal at the UAF Cooperative Extension office on K-Beach Rd. or call 262-5824.