The Bethel Extension office is located on Alaska’s Kuskokwim River about 400 miles from Anchorage in southwest Alaska. Bethel is the regional hub, with a population of about 6,200. It is surrounded by many Alaska Native communities, primarily Yu’pik and Cu’pik, which are only accessible by air or seasonally by snowmachine, boat or via a winter ice road on the river.
Outreach is dedicated to 4-H and youth development, merging modern technology with cultural customs, and introducing digital literacy to underserved communities while honoring their heritage. By infusing culturally relevant content and approaches, such as indigenous languages and storytelling, Bethel’s 4-H programs empower youth with new skills while preserving their cultural identities.
Events
Email: bethel.ces@alaska.edu
Jasmine Shaw, program manager for the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, will be in
Bethel Sept. 2-3 for free food preservation workshops, pressure canning gauge tests,
and to answer questions. She will have free publications available.
Tuesday, Sept. 2
From 5-9 p.m., participants will learn to make healthy, home-canned vegetable soups from garden to pantry using a pressure cooker. They will also learn to make vegetable pickles using the water bath method.
Wednesday, Sept. 3
- From noon-2 p.m., bring your pressure canner dial gauge for a free test. In just a few minutes, Shaw will determine if your dial gauge is accurate and functioning properly. New or unused gauges should be tested before first use. This is also a good time to drop in with any food preservation or gardening questions and pick up free publications on both those topics.
- From 4-6 p.m., youth and families are invited to a jam-making session. Participants can bring berries from home or store-bought fruit will be provided.
Location: Kuskokwim Consortium Library, 420 State Highway, Bethel.
For more information, contact Shaw at jdshaw2@alaska.edu.
Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Alda Norris at amnorris@alaska.edu or 907-474-7120. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to individuals with limited English proficiency upon request to amnorris2@alaska.edu.
This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Learn to exercise and eat for optimal brain and bone health in a series of free lunchtime webinars hosted by AARP and led by ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Cooperative Extension agent Sarah Lewis.
All workshops are from noon-1 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 2, Cooking for Brain Health: Research shows that some nutrients are especially helpful in increasing brain health and reducing the effects of aging on cognitive ability. In this class, you will learn how to easily include foods with brain-helpful nutrients in your daily diet. Sarah Lewis will also demonstrate a few recipes using brain-protective ingredients.
Thursday, Sept. 4, Exercising for Brain Health: Our brain relies on our body to help it function at its best. Some physical activities and movements can be especially helpful to the brain and your cognitive health. In this class you will learn about physical activity options to choose from and add to your week, using little or no special equipment. If you wish to follow Sarah Lewis as she demonstrates, dress in comfortable clothes that allow movement. A sturdy chair and either a carpet or a yoga mat will also be helpful.
Tuesday, Sept. 9, Cooking for Bone Health: Both men and women experience a decrease in bone density with age, increasing the risk of broken bones and frailty. We all know that calcium helps build bone and often rely on dairy products to fill this need. But what if you donʼt consume much milk and cheese, or need to reduce the amount of animal fats in your diet? In this hands-on, kitchen based class, you will learn how to easily include other foods with bone-strengthening nutrients in your weekly diet.
Thursday, Sept. 11, Exercising for Bone Health: Sarah Lewis is a certified leader for the Better Bones & Balance program developed at Oregon State University. In this class, she will introduce you to five simple strength training exercises that help maintain bone mass and increase strength and balance. If you wish to follow Sarah Lewis as she demonstrates, dress in comfortable clothes that allow movement. A sturdy chair and either a carpet or a yoga mat will also be helpful.
For more information and to register, visit the or .
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Alda Norris at amnorris@alaska.edu or 907-474-7120. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to individuals with limited English proficiency upon request to amnorris2@alaska.edu.
This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.