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When families come together, communities can reap the benefits. That’s what happened when the Danville 4‑H Center in Virginia held a Family Night Out that doubled as a community service project. As a part of the Youth and Families with Purpose (YFP) program (part of the 4‑H National Mentoring Program), mentors joined youth mentees and their families to give back and serve their community.

Over the course of several days, the group spent time growing and harvesting produce at the local Promear Community Garden. The opportunity was a rewarding one for the youth as the garden helps contribute to meals for their families, many of which receive government assistance. Participants spent their time weeding and watering the garden, as well as learned the significance of the plants in the garden and how to make organic plant spray. Community garden owners Mr. and Mrs. Predgen also treated the families to a lesson in food preservation with a canning demonstration.

The event/project proved to be a success as YFP families came together to support one another and their community.

Disclaimer

The program described here is funded through grants from OJJPD, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this page (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided).

4‑H Mentoring: Virginia 4‑H

Way down south in the Imperial Valley, California (my hometown), it reached a scorching 113°F this summer! That type of heat called for some creative ways to stay cool when we’re outside. Allow me to share with you a fun, family tradition that you can carry into the early fall months that is bound to be a great start to the season!

Invite a few friends over to your 1st annual Luau Party! Or, blast some Jimmy Buffet music, and your neighbors will likely turn up in their favorite Hawaiian shirt. Once you have enough people, kick off the party with Aloha Limbo! Pull apart a few flower leis, tape them together, and have two of your guests hold the string out straight for others to see how low they can go! Those who can’t quite keep up with this back-bending classic can take to the sidelines and provide some encouragement.

The next game you’ll want to set up is Pineapple Bowling! Simply arrange five pineapples as bowling pins and have your guests stand around 15-20 feet away. Have some coconuts on hand to use as bowling balls and watch the fun begin.

Now it’s time to crank some Beach Boys songs and play Musical Towels! Arrange about ten towels on the grass and have guests dance their best hula until the music stops. Remove a towel each time a player is out until there’s one player remaining! I suggest giving a lei to each winner of each of the games played to keep your guests in a festive mood.

Your guests’ stomachs may be growling by now, so carry out two bowls of chopped fruit, spoons, and skewers. Let the Kabob Relay begin! Set the bowls of fruit on the opposite side of the lawn and split your guests into two teams. Give each team a spoon and let them begin running to the other side on the count of three. The first team to use all of their players to successfully carry all of the fruit (one piece at a time by spoon) to the other side wins! The catch? They must assemble the fruit on the skewers provided.

Look up ‘aloha’ on the internet for some more fun luau games, snacks, and decorations to complete this fun activity!

These days, every piece of technology created has a modified, safer simpler version for kids. After all, we are in the digital age, and how can we possibly progress in a world that is powered by technology if we aren’t giving future leaders the tools to continue innovating and expanding on these trends.

If you haven’t heard by now, 4‑H National Youth Science is adding wearable technology to its now 10-year catalog with the 2018 4‑H NYSD Challenge, Incredible Wearables, giving kids the opportunity to build a custom fitness tracker of their own. It’s a great opportunity to teach youth about the power of technology in everything we do, and how they can take part in helping create technology that can serve us now and in the future.

To help build excitement for the new challenge, we are shouting out some of our favorite kid-friendly wearable tech tools:

VTech 80-171600 Kidizoom Smartwatch DX (2nd Generation)

4-h national youth science day, nysd, wearable tech, kid-friendly, science, fitness, healthy living, safety, tracker. STEM

You’re going to love this cool watch with a built-in camera, games, and activities to help keep kids moving!

LeapFrog LeapBand

With over 50 built-in challenges, getting kids to get active is easier than ever.

Swimband Personal Drowning Detection System

4-h national youth science day, nysd, wearable tech, kid-friendly, science, fitness, healthy living, safety, tracker. STEM

Safety comes first for this versatile band that tracks kids’ activities in and around water.

FiLIP 2 Smart Locator with Voice for Kids, Watermelon Red (AT&T)

4-h national youth science day, nysd, wearable tech, kid-friendly, science, fitness, healthy living, safety, tracker. STEM

With a flick of the wrist, kids can easily get in touch with emergency contacts, while allowing adults to keep tabs on their whereabouts with a built-in GPS.

iBitz Kids Activity Tracker

Set challenges and reward kids for staying active with this cool-colored clip-on tracker.

Encourage youth to create a health and fitness tracker with the 2018 4‑H National Youth Science Day Challenge, Incredible Wearables!

Standing in the presence of Jennifer Nettles, Aubrey Plaza, and Anne Burrell while the cameras flashed and smiles beamed all across the room was only a sliver of my unforgettable Youth in Action experience. While standing on the “green” carpet, I was taken aback by the surrealism of this honor and award.

Three years ago, I was a timid 4‑H’er who found my niche as the first Healthy Living Officer. Fast forward a few years and the Color Me Green Run became an annual event. My involvement at the state level allowed me to host a Health Fair at the State Leadership Conference, as well as hosting a statewide mental health conversation called Text Talk Act. Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed that my work would be recognized nationally. It’s been a blessing in my small hometown of Imperial as more attention has been focused on combatting our high obesity rates. Best of all, I have the privilege of serving as a national spokesperson to promote healthy lifestyles.

To you, the reader: I encourage you to discover your passion in 4‑H as I have. Commit yourself to your club, your community, your country, and even the world. Our 4‑H pledge is a promise not only to better ourselves, but to serve those around us. The Youth in Action award will be the culmination of your engagement, and I guarantee it will be an opportunity like no other. Where else can you meet distinguished 4‑H alumni who may even compliment your dress? Where else can you spend time practicing with a teleprompter as 4‑H directors provide you with positive feedback on your speech? Where else can you dine in the fanciest hotel while conversing with Molina Healthcare and other generous sponsors? The 4‑H Youth in Action experience has broadened my horizons to the 4‑H program. This opportunity has allowed me to meet other winners from across the nation who made this event ten thousand times more memorable. Above all, this award has taught me professional skills that will last a lifetime, and I will always cherish the memories of the entire 4‑H Youth in Action experience.

 

February is all about hearts! Yes, Valentine’s Day is coming up, but it’s also American Heart Month.The heart is one of the most important organs in your body–you can’t live without it! Unfortunately, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.It’s about time we showed our hearts a little more love!

You can start improving your heart health today, with the American Heart Association’s ‘Life’s Simple 7’:

  1. Avoid smoking and using tobacco products.
  2. Be physically active every day.
  3. Eat a heart-healthy diet.
  4. Keep a healthy weight.
  5. Keep your blood pressure healthy.
  6. Keep your total cholesterol healthy.
  7. Keep your blood sugar healthy.
Did you notice that five out of the seven items are related to diet and nutrition? Healthy eating is one of the most efficient ways to keep your heart pumping like it should.So this February, slam the brakes on all that candy and chocolate (it’s tough, I know!) and try some heart healthy recipes instead!One of my favorite breakfast dishes is a papaya boat. Papayas are rich in beta-carotene, potassium, magnesium, and fiber, all of which are great for your heart!
Start with a quarter of a papaya, and fill the divot in the center with a few tablespoons of your favorite plain yogurt. I love goat milk yogurt for its smooth texture, but Greek yogurt works well too! Just make sure there aren’t any added sugars–the papaya is sweet enough!

Sprinkle some berries, nuts, and seeds on top of the yogurt. I like blueberries, which have tons of phytonutrients. Peanuts and sunflower seeds add some healthy fats and protein, not to mention a great crunch!

Now dig into all those bright, beautiful colors on your plate, because taking care of your heart is the best Valentine you can get!

Visit MyLifeCheck.org to understand more about heart health and learn ideas to help you make healthy choices.
Recently, 4‑H youth leaders in Lafayette, Louisiana, helped lead sessions with kids from nine schools focused on nutrition, smart grocery shopping, composting and other healthy living topics. The sessions were part of a United Healthcare 4‑H Food Smart Families School Garden Initiative Training.

The 4‑H Food Smart Families program helps to empower families through food knowledge and education to build sustainable solutions that confront food insecurity and improve overall health. Driven by 4‑H teen leaders, 4‑H Food Smart Families programming focuses on helping peers and their families learn about food – how to budget for it, use it, cook it and make choices that contribute toward their health and well-being.

 

Healthy choices are always easier to make when you have a strong support system. That’s one of the reasons that I launched the first-ever 4‑H Healthy Living blog: to create a platform for 4‑H’ers to share their stories and create national discussions about health.

A strong support system for health starts at home and YOU can be the change agent!

Try these tips with your family to get healthy together!

  1. Get active together.
    Plan times throughout the week when your family can exercise together. For example, I love going on walks or swimming at the beach with my parents and little brother. Try something new, like training for a half marathon or yoga classes–it’s a great way to bond and work out!
  2. Turn off the TV.
    I’ll admit, binge-watching my favorite shows is a huge temptation. But it’s also an easy way to waste a ton of time being inactive and even mindlessly snacking. Decide as a family how much time to spend per day in front of the tube, gaming or playing on the computer. For my family, two hours is a good limit.
  3. Bake healthier.
    Cookies, cakes–they’re delicious! Try substituting unsweetened applesauce or mashed bananas for butter or sugar for a healthier twist.
  4. Enjoy leftovers.
    Instead of throwing out food, transform your leftovers into delectable new dishes! Try adding a lean protein like turkey to soups or salads or use veggies to create omelets, sandwiches or stews.
  5. Get active with chores.
    Chores are a pain, but they’re also a great way to get the whole family to move! Yard work like raking, weeding or planting can be great exercise. Or, if you’re like me, blast some music and work on your killer dance moves while washing dishes, sweeping, or vacuuming!
  6. Make meal-planning a family activity.
    There’s nothing more fun than cooking with the fam! Collaborate in the kitchen to decide on nutritious foods and recipes to make throughout the week. Check the MyPlate guidelines to ensure you’re using ingredients from all the food groups!
  7. Share the love – include other families.
    The more, the merrier! Invite other families to join in some healthy activities like bowling or beach volleyball.
  8. Celebrate successes.
    Change doesn’t come easy, so reward yourselves for making progress! Take a fun hike or enjoy some healthy fro-yo ?

More Healthy Living

Jumpstart Your New Year with These Small Healthy Changes

4‑H Curriculum: Youth Advocates for Health!

Mentoring is a powerful tool to help guide, empower and encourage others to reach their full potential. It’s a gateway to both learn and share a wealth of knowledge and experiences. Whether through peer mentoring, adult-child mentoring, or reverse mentoring, both mentor and mentee benefit in more ways than one.

Since January is National Mentoring Month, it only makes sense for us to celebrate what has been such an integral part of the 4‑H experience for so many years.

4‑H mentors are more than advisors; they are role models, educators, life coaches, and friends to the 4‑H kids in their communities. The partnership between a 4‑H mentor and young mentee is important because youth are encouraged to explore their interests and receive valuable, active support.

Here are just a few of the many 4‑H Mentoring programs that not only impact, but save young lives.

Missouri 4‑H: A Powerful Message Combatting Bullying

The Marshall Mentor Program helps youth understand the importance of empathy, courage, perseverance, kindness, and forgiveness, and it challenges them to put these traits into action when facing one of the most common social problems: bullying. The program was inspired by the book, “Marshall the Miracle Dog,” which tells the story of a courageous canine who overcame his battle with bullying. Marshall’s survival led to the creation of the Marshall Movement, which focuses on the importance of teaching kids anti-bullying and anti-animal cruelty.

Missouri 4‑H has implemented the Marshall Mentor Program and applied it to local schools and communities across the state. A young participant of the programs says, “The first way to stop bullying is to treat others the way you would like to be treated. Marshall changed lives and so can we.”

Washington 4‑H: Exchanging and Appreciating Culture through a Common Goal

2016 Standing Rock Reservation - YouTube

Youth and mentors of the Washington State 4‑H National Mentoring Program participated in a state-wide summer trip to North Dakota, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. North Dakota 4‑H and Washington 4‑H are both a part of the 4‑H National Mentoring Program. Funded in partnership with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the 4‑H National Mentoring Program supports various initiatives that assist in the development of mentoring services in high-risk communities and populations. The goal is to reduce juvenile delinquency, drug abuse, truancy, and other problems and high-risk behaviors.

The trip was unique as the visit took place just before the Dakota Access Pipeline protests began. Through the cultural exchange trip, mentees of both programs had the opportunity to learn from and understand one another’s experiences, as well as grow an appreciation for the other’s history and culture. A smaller Washington 4‑H group later returned to the reservation to deliver supplies to protesters.

Louisiana 4‑H: Pledging their Hands to Serve the Community

Louisiana 4‑H - Flood Relief - Kids with Supplies

Louisiana suffered severe flooding during the summer. During this time, youth involved in the 4‑H National Mentoring Program came together to give back to communities in need. Pairs of mentors and youth spent time together collecting clothing, baby items, and school supplies, and delivering up to truckloads of items to affected communities. United Way in Lafayette, Louisiana was the recipient of the thousands of supplies that were collected by the group.

“The reach of the mentoring [program] is widespread and powerful,” says one 4‑H Agent when speaking about the program’s influence. “This kind of impact can’t be captured in an evaluation. The program has shaped teens into people who have responded in a quick and unselfish manner.“

Click here to learn more about 4‑H Mentoring.

Mentoring Curriculum:

2017 is finally here! Many of us rang in the new year with noisemakers, celebrations, and, of course, New Year’s resolutions.

Studies show that over 80% of resolutions focus on health and wellness—but just 8% of resolutions are actually kept.

Don’t lose hope though! The New Year is a perfect time to work on your health. Here are my five favorite tips to have lasting impacts on your wellness in 2017.

  1. Set realistic, specific goals.
    We’ve all done the thing where we promise ourselves: “I’ll go to the gym every day, and never eat junk food again.” Setting the bar too high ensures failure, discouragement, and eventually, giving up. Plus, these goals are way too general. Don’t fall into this trap! Set small, quantifiable goals that you can actually achieve. For example: instead of saying “I’m going to drink more water”, decide “I’m going to drink a glass of water before every meal/snack.” You’ll be surprised at how quickly these small steps will add up!
  2. Breathe.
    Meditation is a great way to sift through your thoughts, relax, and get into a good head space. Set aside just five minutes a day (my favorite time is right when I wake up) to decompress your body and still your mind. An easy technique is to inhale for four counts and exhale for four counts.
  3. Squad up and sweat!
    Exercising is always WAY more fun with your friends. You can motivate each other and spend some quality bonding time! I’ve made some great memories jogging with my girls, struggling up hills and enjoying the view at the top–not to mention the endorphins! If running’s not your thing, sign up for a Zumba class, or grab a ball for some pickup soccer—anything that gets your heart rate up is golden.
  4. Plan ahead.
    We don’t always make the best decisions on an empty stomach—so plan your meals/snacks beforehand! I like to cut up a bunch of veggies and keep them in the fridge in snack-sized portions. That way, when I’m busy, I can just grab a bag and head out the door. Fresh fruit is also a great option—apple slices with peanut butter is a personal fave!
  5. Cut yourself some slack.
    Nobody’s perfect. Never beat yourself up if you miss a workout or eat a little more ice cream than you should. Plus, treats are important! Change isn’t easy, nor is it quick. Know that you’re taking small steps towards a better, healthier you, and as long as you keep working at it, 2017 will be your healthiest year yet!

More Healthy Living

4‑H Curriculum: Choose Health: Food, Fun and Fitness

The other day I was teaching a bullying prevention program at a rural South Georgia school. I showed the group a picture of myself as a 4‑H’er at an event. I looked happy, was holding a tomato, in a green 4‑H sports coat, and smiling. I asked the group to tell me something about the person in the picture, or something they had noticed about me since I had started the class. I got things like, “You like tomatoes,” others told me, “You look happy.” Both of these things were correct, at least for that moment. I did look happy, and at that event I was, but what about every other time? I explained to these middle schoolers that just by looking at this picture, and talking to me they could not tell that I had been bullied, that I cried myself to sleep many times, that I planned suicide, that my father left my family when I was young, or that I felt unloved.

Today many of our nation’s youth are experiencing these same adversities. They may not all have a parent who left, they may not all contemplate suicide, but many are experiencing harsh words and actions by their peers in our schools, communities, and gatherings. I was told that I was aggravating, ugly, fat, stupid, different, gay, and many other names. Unfortunately, the more you are told these things the more you believe them.

I would not be here today had it not been for a caring family that recognized something was wrong, and for my involvement in the 4‑H program. At 4‑H I felt loved. I knew that there were 4‑H Agents and friends who liked me, wanted me to succeed, and be the best I could be. 4‑H taught me to be strong, and then to go help others; to help any other person who had experienced what I had. Most importantly, 4‑H taught me that normal does not exist. There is no such thing as a normal family, person, school, community, or anything. We are all different, and we bring different skills to the table – 4‑H taught me how to be me.

I was grateful to have a loving family, and a loving 4‑H family who supported me every step along the way, but so many do not have these support systems. It is our duty as 4‑H members, as 4‑H educators, and as 4‑H alumni to bring to these youth the message of self-worth, to bring a family of support, to bring ourselves to help others in need. This is not a strange concept for 4‑H; this is what it’s been doing for 114 years. Together we can save a child, win a battle, and make a difference.