4-H CAPITAL
4-H CAPITALIncreasing science capital for urban youth

360 Bridge Clean Up!

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On Saturday, May 8th, some of our 4H members made the trip to the Pennybacker Bridge for a trash clean-up! The bridge, more commonly referred to as the “360 Bridge,” has gorgeous views of Lake Austin which made for a very scenic experience. Members Thomas Brentano and Bella Sperry organized the event with the help of Nicole Beckstrom, Lawrence English, and his amazing son Jack! Once parked, visitors can climb several step-like boulders to arrive at an overlook. There is also a short, one-mile trail that extends along the river which, unfortunately, had plenty of trash for us to grab. We filled about five garbage bags with recyclable cans, containers, and bottles.

The bridge was named in honor of Percy V. Pennybacker, a civil engineer for the Texas Highway Department. He helped develop the use of cost-effective welding technology for the construction of bridges. The Pennybacker Bridge is 1,150 feet long and was uniquely built so that no part of it touches any water below. As a result, Lake Austin has been kept free of any columns that might interfere with the recreational fishing and boating activities that take place there.

When it opened in 1982, the Pennybacker Bridge was only the second bridge in the world with this type of design. It was even awarded first place in the Federal Highway Administration’s Excellence in Highway Design competition in 1984. The steel bridge has a subtle rust finish which causes the bridge to blend in with the surrounding hills and lake. This is especially celebrated as modern architecture aims to complement the environment it is built-in.

The city asks that visitors of this overlook leave no trash in the surrounding nature, and avoid bringing food to decrease littering. It is also unsafe to visit at night given the rocky climb and steep drop. If you’re interested in visiting, be sure to wear safe closed toe shoes and always bring a hiking partner!

Quick Guide to Texas Wildflowers

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It is that wonderful time of year in Texas where we get to see some rain, resulting in wildflowers around the state! For those who are new to Texas or want to get to know flowers better, we have a quick guide for you:

Bluebonnet: If it is blue and you see people pulled over to the side of the highway to take pictures with the flower, they are certainly bluebonnets. Our state flower is iconic, and is known for its blue color, but on the A&M campus they are maroon!

 

Prickly Pear Cactus: If the stem of this yellow flower looks like a cactus, it is because it is. These cacti not only have delicious prickly pears, but bloom yellow flowers in the springtime. This plant is perfect for Texas lawns as it is deer resistant, pollinator friendly, and requires very little maintenance.

Fire wheel: These wildflowers can be identified by their vibrant red and yellow pinwheel, along with the three-toothed petals.

Rain Lily: Has it rained recently? Then the flower may be a Hill Country Rain Lily! These flowers open throughout the day, and only last a day or two, so enjoy them while you can.

Pink Evening Primrose: Also called pink ladies, these flowers are night owls, most opening their flowers in the evening, closing them again early each morning. You can identify them by their pink color and cup shape.

Green Prairie Coneflower: Also called the Mexican Hat because of its resemblance to the Sombrero, this flower can range from dark red and yellow, to all red or all yellow.

Blackfoot daisy: Does anyone else smell honey? It might be the Blackfoot Daisy! These black rarely grow over 6 inches high, and are often in clumps that are 1-2 feet across

Texas Thistle: This flower looks like it should be on the end of Cher’s pen in Clueless. A favorite of bumblebees, the Texas thistle grows from 2-5 feet tall and has a noticeable pink color.

Texas Lantana: More common in East Texas, this flower resembles a popcorn ball. Ranging from vibrant red, orange, and yellow flowers, this plant is perfects for Texas gardens as it is deer resistant and pollinator friendly.

Have you seen any wildflowers yet? A great resource to help identify them is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (https://www.wildflower.org/plants-main) or using iNaturalist (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations).

April showers bring May flowers (and vaccinations)!

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As we go into April more of our members will be able to get vaccinated, and with more of us getting poked, we are getting closer to getting back in person! I am personally really excited to spend time with my friends and family, but also get in person lessons prepared! I asked some of my fellow AmeriCorps volunteers about getting vaccinated and what they are looking forward to this semester!

Nicole, Garden Science

1. Why did you want to get vaccinated?

I wanted to get vaccinated because I’m excited to see the world get back to normal slowly but surely and I know getting vaccinated is a huge step in helping that happen!

2. What are you looking forward to doing once everyone starts getting vaccinated?

I’m looking forward to seeing my family again! Since I live out of state from everyone in my family, I haven’t seen most of them in over a year, so I’m looking forward to seeing them once vaccination rates are higher. I also want to check out the bars and restaurants in Austin. Since I moved here during the pandemic, I haven’t done too much of that yet.

3. Did you celebrate at all?

I didn’t go out and celebrate getting my first shot because my partner that I live with is still not vaccinated so we’re still living cautiously with the Covid guidelines. But I did have a really nice zoom call with my family to celebrate all of us being vaccinated!

4. What in person activity/lessons are you planning?

I’m super excited if we can teach in person this June! I don’t have any specific lessons planned at the moment but I’m excited about the possibility to be outside in the gardens with my students and getting our hands dirty in the school gardens. 😊🍀

 

Bella, E&T

1. Why did you want to get vaccinated?

So that I felt safer from contracting the virus (again). it was not fun the first time

2. What are you looking forward to doing once everyone starts getting vaccinated?

Going to college! I can’t wait to meet new people in a safer way

3. Did you celebrate at all?

Yes, with smoothies

4. What in person activity/lessons are you planning?

An eyesight activity with different lenses to explore how the eye works

 

Rina, NR

1. Why did you want to get vaccinated?

My roommates all work service industry jobs so I felt a responsibility to keep myself as safe as possible as well as the populations they are serving.

2. What are you looking forward to doing once everyone starts getting vaccinated?

I’m looking forward to shopping at the goodwill bins! Love the place but it’s truly lawless.

3. Did you celebrate at all?

I definitely had some beers to celebrate after the recommended alcohol abstinence period!

4. What in person activity/lessons are you planning?

I would love to do some outdoor camping! I know that’s historically a big event for the NR team.

 

All in all, we still need to socially distance and wear our masks to protect each other, but we are starting to get excited about what we can do when it is safe!

New Year, New Me?

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It’s that time again. Despite months of social distancing, isolation, and the dwindling of common practices, we still have the illusive New Year’s Resolutions hanging over our heads.

Every year we compose a list of habits we want to break or begin and ever year nearly 80% of those lists aren’t completed to fruition.

Don’t be bummed if you fall into that 80% group because you’re definitely not alone.

Why do so many resolutions end before they really begin?

One main reason is that “outside-in” solutions rarely improve our lives if we have not made intrinsic changes to the roots of our least favorite characteristics.

A more successful approach is to associate a word or phrase with 2021.

For example, if your resolution was to “read more” or “learn a new hobby” then your word could be “knowledge” and for the rest of 2021 you can give special attention to things that you believe fall under that category.

Here are some of the top resolutions of previous years. When reading through them, try to associate a word or phrase that someone could use in the resolution’s place to better identify their desires/needs.

  1. Exercise more
  2. Get organized
  3. Learn a new skill or hobby
  4. Save more money / spend less money
  5. Spend more time with family and friends

Now think about your own personal resolutions. What word or phrase could you use to better identify the things in your life that you want to improve?

No matter what your word or phrase for 2021 is, don’t forget that you have a strong support system with your 4-H family! We’re here to build you up in your greatest endeavors. As one of our staff members said in a previous (virtual meeting), “if you can achieve your dreams all on your own, then you’re not dreaming big enough.”

Self-Care in Isolation

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In these strange times, our physical and mental health is more important than ever. We’ve all developed different healthy coping mechanisms that have carried us through months of social distancing. But everyone is different. Where some turn to running, others turn to reading. We each have different ways of unwinding and reviving our mind and body. The following are a few hobbies that members have gained through these strange times.
Kaitlyn – Due to having more time during the pandemic, I have learned a lot more about self-awareness and have been actively working towards being more self-aware of what my mind and body need throughout the day with frequent check-ins with myself and how I am feeling!
Phaedra – I have been enjoying NOT feeling obligated to go everywhere on weekends. We installed a fire ring in my front yard and do more outdoor cooking, playing, relaxing. I always have a creative/repair project to occupy me, and staying home is this introvert’s dream come true.
Camila – I have personally been keeping myself in a healthy place by maintaining movement throughout my days whether it be through stretching, walking or dancing. Similar to Phaedra I also enjoy having a creative or repair project to fill my time with.
Linley – One of the healthiest things I’ve tried in the pandemic is there’s a playground close to my house, and I’ve gotten really good at doing the monkey bars, even upside down and backwards lol! its been a super fun way to workout and improve balance!
Kryssie – I have used this time to grow in my photography skills. It’s become my favorite way to take a step back and breathe when I’m feeling overwhelmed
Aside from all of these wonderful hobbies that our members have taken up, 4H also held a weekly virtual self-care series through the month of November and with the latest one being a yoga class led by one of our members this Wednesday.
For more ideas and tips on how to be your best self during this pandemic, visit the site below:

Your Story Matters

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“It’s easy to forget our roots when we aren’t around it all the time.”

AmeriCorps has always set out to be a lifechanging opportunity for fellow life changers. 4-H CAPITAL is no different. Each year we bring over 30 members from across the country to serve with us here in Austin, TX. For 10 months, our instructors devote their time to increasing science capital in their new communities.

We spend these months getting to know our students and seeing them grow up so much in such a short amount of time. In all that we do and in all that we give, it’s easy to forget about our own personal reflection. We are grateful to have a team so rich in diverse life experiences. We have all come from different backgrounds and have a unique story to tell. During October, 4-H CAPITAL celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting our LatinX members and giving them a platform to voice their stories.

As you read about what Hispanic Heritage Month means to these 4-H instructors and staff, we encourage you reflect on your own traditions and values within your family. Please feel free to share the stories, recipes, and praises of your personal upbringing in the comments below.

Alicia: It wasn’t until I was away from my roots that I realized how important it was to understand and appreciate my culture. When I went from San Antonio, TX to Cedar Falls, Iowa the culture shock was real and what I knew about my culture was really put to a test. Now that I am back in Austin and a few hours away from San Antonio, I have realized that Hispanic Heritage month should not just be a month long celebration it should be celebrated and recognized throughout the year.

 I love Menudo! I know that it is not loved by many, but now that it gets chilly I crave my mom’s Menudo! Also tamales! If anyone knows of a good place to try – please leave a comment! Forever searching, because nothing tastes better than my mom’s cooking! or San Antonio ha!

Kryssie: My grandma’s side of the family is from Mexico and my grandpa’s side of the family is from Spain. My white passing appearance and lack of Spanish fluency has put me in a strange cultural limbo that is difficult to break out of.

Hispanic heritage month to me means relearning the culture that wasn’t taught throughout my childhood due to generational fears and desires to “Americanize” the family.It means that I can claim ownership of the parts of myself that I am still becoming familiar with.

Rina: I’m part Colombian and part Mexican! Growing up in Laredo which is predominately Hispanic, Hispanic heritage month was never something I never really celebrated or thought much about.

However, being away from my hometown for a couple of years now, it feels like it wasn’t a big deal in Laredo because living there was a constant celebration of our identity. Although I am now vegan, I miss chicarron and the way my home would smell like fried pig’s skin for hours afterwards. I’m Hispanic, half Costa-Rican and half Panamanian.

Daemary: Hispanic heritage month means to me a month that I’m reminded to appreciate the rich culture that I come from.

It’s easy to forget our roots when we aren’t around it all the time. My favorite dish I like to both cook and eat is hojaldras with salchichas. Hojaldras are like a fried bread that you can put cheese on the top, and I always pair it with a side of salchichas. It’s basically cut up hot dogs in this tomato and onion based sauce. The hojaldras with the cheese, mixed with the sauce is the best part.

Camila: I was born in Colombia in the city of Cali Valle de Cauca. For me, Hispanic Heritage Month has not been a significant part of my life. I choose to observe and celebrate my heritage every day.

I think Hispanic Heritage Month is a great chance for Americans to reflect on the presence and influence Hispanxs and Latinxs have on the fabric of America and honor the cultures that have fueled this country. My favorite dish to cook is Sancocho de Pescado which is a traditional Colombian fish stew.