Local 4-H clubs offer something for nearly everyone’s taste

Donna L. Preston
For The Alpine Sun
     The largest youth organization in the world is actively recruiting new members for the upcoming year. 
The 4-H Club, now over 100 years old, is increasingly appealing to kids today who are interested in improving themselves, gaining valuable job experience, and helping their communities.
     This successful club is run by kids, for kids, with the support of their parents, of course. Several of the clubs are offering open enrollment throughout the year but early participation is encouraged for the various shows that will take place. 
     In the East County, there are several clubs to choose from including the El Cajon, Lakeside, Alpine, Japatul, and Mountain Empire Clubs.
     Kids can pick from any of the more then 70 4-H projects being offered, regardless of where they live or join. Although not all the different projects are always available, it is not a problem to, for example, be a member of the Mountain Empire 4-H, and attend the Horse Project in Alpine. The clubs usually meet once a month and each project group will normally meet at least once a month. 
     Children as young as five are participating in some activities, such as raising chickens and Pygmy Goats. Further, younger children can, and do, win numerous ribbons showing their projects. However, one of the most popular projects is the Horse Project. Kids need to be at least nine to participate actively with the horses. Youth can continue the activities in 4-H until they are 19 years old.
     The 4-Hers also have the opportunity to join the Future Farmers of America program while attending high school, whether at El Captain High School or in the Mountain Empire District.
     The Japatul 4-H Club is strongly linked with FFA. While Mr. Dyer teaches FFA at El Capitan High School, his wife, Jamie, is the Japatul 4-H Club leader. This club meets on the second Monday of the month. For more information on the Japatul Club’s meetings, one may contact Jamie Dyer at 445-8261.
     Community service is another important activity of the 4-H Club. Each club decides what community service to do — the kids make all decisions, with parents as supportive observers). For example, the Alpine Amigo 4-H Club has recently started a community service project to support Descanso Town Hall Movies on Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m.
     Fund-raising activities vary with each club. The Horse Project in Alpine has an annual fund-raising event called the Ride for St. Jude. This event has earned the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospitals from a generous $1,900 donation this year to $2,500 a few years ago.
     Sponsors pledge dollar amounts per mile and the kids ride the horses for the pledges. The horse program doesn’t just teach horsemanship, but also the upkeep and maintenance of the horses as well. Members don’t even need to have their own horse because the new community leader in Alpine, Charla Cranor, has 27 of her own to share.
     The Alpine Amigos Club invites all those interested to attend their upcoming meeting at the Alpine Community Center. The meetings are the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. Mark your calendars for the first yearly meeting on Sept. 7. You can join the club at the meeting with a small amount of necessary paperwork and your $10 membership fee.
     The club’s original meeting announcement had the wrong date (Sept. 6) and has since been corrected to Wednesday, Sept. 7 
     For more information on the Amigos club, one may call Lauren Bender at 445-1888 or learn more about area-wide programs at One may visit the San Diego County Extension Website.

Photo: Members of the Alpine Amigos. horse project ride in the July 4 parade in Crown Hills.
Christy Scott/The Alpine Sun

Summer reading program offered fun with a dash of magic

By Lori Bledsoe
For The Alpine Sun
     DESCANSO — The end of summer has finally arrived, and the question of “What did you do over the summer?” will be bandied about during school when the kids meet up with friends and classmates. Even teachers will be curious whether their students imbibed in any summer reading, or worthwhile activities.
     A few Descanso children will be able to answer “yes,” after participating in the annual summer reading contest at the county library.
     This was the first year that I have had the pleasure of being involved in this reading program, and I was pleased by the encouragement that was offered by the Descanso librarians, who presented a wonderful array of reasons and prizes for the kids to really get reading over the summer.
     There were two contests that were actually running. The children’s reading program was themed, Dragons, Dreams and Daring Deeds, which over 63 young kids joined and 27 kids finished, and the teen program, themed “Joust Read,” had over 30 teens joining.
     The prizes were donated by the different businesses around town, such as Perkin’s, and The Descanso Trading Post along with the county library. These prizes were the real motivators. One of the most sought after prizes for the children’s program was a real velvet jester’s cap complete with jingle bells. For the teens, there was a CD player that kept them competing.
     The end of the contest for both groups brought a fun celebration. The children’s group was treated to an ice cream party, with Dick Dale, a well known local magician, resplendently dressed as a wizard, to dazzle and entertain.
     The teen group celebrated with a pizza party and a real potions class where they made Wurmslime, and two different drinks: fairy juice and foaming dragon’s blood. They also enjoyed pretzel wands.
     Everyone who participated received a prize — and a good time was had by all...

Photo: Tessa Cardinal pets Topper, who was part of the show by local magician Dick Dale.
Lori Bledsoe/The Alpine Sun