Henry Canafax recently joined Clark County Green Neighbors as an AmeriCorps member and will be with the program through July 2023. Check out the interview below to learn more about our newest team member.

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Evanston, Illinois. For those of you who don't know where that is, Evanston is the first city north of Chicago along Lake Michigan. Evanston is a vibrant, progressive, and diverse community of about 75,000 people. In town, you can explore a multitude of restaurants, various music and art exhibits, Northwestern University, and the beautiful lakeshore. From 2018-2022, I lived in Ames, Iowa, where I attended and graduated from Iowa State University. 

What aspect of serving with Green Neighbors are you most excited about?

The things I'm most excited about are expanding my network, learning new things, and experiencing a new community through my involvement with the program. Environmental sustainability is something that I'm passionate about. I'm overjoyed to have the opportunity to incorporate that in my everyday life by serving with the Green Neighbors program in Clark County. 

What projects will you be tasked with for Green Neighbors?

My role is Environmental Outreach Coordinator, so the projects that I'll oversee are community based. Some examples include the WasteBusters Challenge, Natural Garden Tours, and the garden plots at Pacific Community Park. I'll also table at various events in the community throughout my service term. 

Where in Clark County are you most excited to explore?

I'm most excited to explore the outdoor areas in the county such as regional and state parks, campgrounds, lakes, rivers, hiking trails, and ski areas. I love to camp, hike, ride by bicycle, fish, and snowboard, and I'm ecstatic to have such a naturally beautiful area to explore right at my doorstep. 

What is your favorite activity to do outdoors?

Although I absolutely love all the outdoor activities I previously mentioned, my number one favorite thing to do outside is tailgate at Iowa State football games. An ideal day for me is: waking up at 7, meeting up with my friends and family at a tailgate spot outside Jack Trice Stadium at 8am, and grill out, play bags, and crack jokes all day in the crisp, midwestern fall air. Then head into the stadium to watch the Cyclones get a W and celebrate after the game for the rest of the day. There's no better way to take advantage of the outdoors than with college football. 

What's your favorite animal?

I find birds absolutely fascinating. They're the descendants of dinosaurs and they can fly, so they're essentially flying dinosaurs, and that's incredible to me. The coolest bird I've ever seen in real life and probably my favorite species is the Abyssinian Ground Hornbill. This bird is native to central Africa, and it's a carnivore that eats snakes, hares, lizards, mongooses, and more. During the two months I spent in Uganda, I saw a bunch up close and personal.