Caring For My Backyard gives students a platform to start exploring how they can get involved in changing the local environment and create a culture of caring. Those experiences aren’t just limited to the contest!

2017 Semi-finalist Cameron Blackwell was selected for a scholarship to attend a business summit in Anchorage, Alaska. Cameron says the week-long event further opened her eyes to the professional world and how to navigate the challenges of building your own company.

In 2012, SoHi student Bradyn Holly dug deep into the way roads are sanded during winter, searching for a way to cut down on springtime air and water pollution.

Bradyn writes… “My CFK project taught me to never give up when trying to find an answer to a question no matter how hard it is to find and how many people you have to ask because each person you talk to can teach you something no matter who they are.

2016 Finalist Robert McGinnis followed through on his idea, with the help of Soldotna Rotary & Blazy Construction, and built a Recycling Event trailer. The trailer was operated for a summer at Peninsula events & festivals collecting and separating recyclables.

Robert explains: “CFK made me more independent in my life by giving me a chance to maybe go to college.

In 2009, Olivia Pfeifer’s winning Caring for the Kenai idea brought a rescue puppy named ‘Rosie’ to the Kenai Municipal Airport, to scare birds away from runways and taxiways. Olivia says the contest ignited an ‘environmental spark’ which changed the course of her life…

“It shaped a lot of my future. I went on to study earth and oceanographic science and I’m actually currently a peace corps community environmental conservation volunteer in Panama.  

Renewable energy systems are exempt from property taxes in Alaska, thanks to 2010 CFK winner Freya Chay.

In 2010, Freya won the contest as a freshman at KCHS with her idea to create a property tax exemption for renewable energy systems. Freya brought her idea to local lawmakers as a Legislative amendment, which was signed into law by Governor Sean Parnell just a few weeks after Freya won CFK.

In 2013, Elise Webber designed a Disaster Preparedness app to win Caring for the Kenai. Now, Elise is studying molecular and cellular biology at Illinois State University. She says CFK helped balance her education…

“A typical high school stereotype that stays strong even in college is that those who succeed in STEM fields are lacking in communication skills. CFK helps to foster those skills by pushing traditionally math and science minded kids out of their comfort zone with good incentive.