The Lifestyle and Education Team is focused on meeting the educational and lifestyle needs of our community. The team addresses alternative educational needs, poverty issues, community projects that promote healthy lifestyles and affordable activities to enhance the living experiences of residents of Cascade.
Current Activities - "Eco-Machine" Waste Treatment System – In a effort to lower taxes, create more green space and create jobs, the City of Cascade is considering upgrading its sewer system with a new ecology-friendly system. Learn more about "Eco-Machines."
- Touring Cascade – To increase awareness of our area's cultural, historical and natural features, we are researching a walking and driving tour.
- Senior Center Park Service Project – With the help of our Master Gardeners, we will propose a plan to landscape the Senior Center Park. Upon approval, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts troops will implement the design.
- Updating the Library – The library will continue to receive a face lift with new metal siding.
- Landscaping The Recycled Book – Soon you will enjoy a fire-wise educational garden in front of The Recycled Book.
Accomplishments
- Cascade City Fire and Rural Fire District Consolidation – The Lifestyle and Education Action Team campaigned to pass the fire consolidation mandate through various mediums, including a Family Fun Day. The consolidation of the fire departments will provide the community with better fire response times, a decrease in the rural insurance costs, lower taxes, and the ability to maintain the city’s current fire rating.
- The Recycled Book – The team partnered with the Cascade City Library and Friends of the Library to build a new used bookstore for the community. The bookstore is up and running, providing the community with affordable books and a place to recycle used books.
- Rocking Chair-ity – The Lifestyle and Education Team coordinated a Rocking Chair-ity Event with the intention of promoting the Cascade Public Library Reading Program, Long Valley Families in Crisis, and Cascade Area Animal Rescue and Education (CAARE). The event was sponsored by Horizons, The Ashley Inn and Idaho Distributing. It included a social hour of wine and sparkling cider sampling, hors d’oeuvres, music, and an auction.
- Newsletter – The team has put together a Horizons’ newsletter, Cascade Currents, to inform the public and other team members of up-and-coming community events, about what the action teams are doing, and how individuals can get involved in community projects. View the newsletter.
Adult and Youth Programs
- Senior Citizens’ Dinner – University of Idaho Extension-4H and our team collaborated on a dinner for the senior citizens with the Adult/Youth Partnership grant money. The youth chose to spend time getting to know the senior citizens in the community. The dinner was a success with 54 youth and adults attending.
- Community Garden – During the summer of 2009, under the guidance of AmeriCorps/University of Idaho Intern Melissa Hamilton, the team under took a community garden. At the end of the season, we put together a Community Garden Cookbook, which we sold as a fundraiser for next year’s garden. We also had a Preservation Celebration in which WICAP contacted people in the area to come and pick fresh produce from the garden.
Formed Cascade Cultural Arts Committee
- The Cultural Arts Committee, along with Lake Cascade State Park, organized Music in the Park. More than 200 people attended the performances by local musicians.
Dutch Oven Cooking Classes and Cook-off
- Our team partnered with the Lake Cascade State Park, University of Idaho Extension-4-H and the Southern Valley County Recreation District to bring the community Dutch oven cooking classes and competition. Dutch oven enthusiasts, beginners to expert, joined us for some delicious, educational and fun summer cooking.
