Ohio 4-H Healthy Living

Congratulations to this year's winners of the 4th H Club Challenge!

Celebrate with us today by donating to the Ohio 4-H Healthy Living and CARTEENS programs! With your gift you can help youth fuel their sense of adventure and uncover new passions. Make a difference in the lives of 4-H youth by donating at go.osu.edu/givehealth and go.osu.edu/givecarteens.

Last week the 4-H Healthy Living Design Team, made up of professionals from around the state, met at the Franklin County extension Office to create their 2024 plan of work. Justin kept us on track, and we accomplished a lot! Jacki Baca and Sierra Baca organized a food challenge with a mystery ingredient (dates). It was so fun! Thank you Katherina, Cynthia , and Barry for serving as judges.

Last weekend 4-H’ers attended the Health HEROES training at the 4-H center on campus. They learned about the 10 dimensions of wellness and the health impact pyramid, did activities from the Sodium Shakedown kit, and started on their action plans. It was a warm, sunny day, so we took a walk around the arboretum pond. HEROES = Health Education Resources for Outreach, Engagement, and Service.

Halloween can be healthier. It’s OK to enjoy a little candy but try passing out these items instead. Kids will still think they’re getting a treat, and you’ll feel good about giving them a healthier option.

And it’s a wrap! HealthU 2023 is in the books!

We can all be creators! Saturday afternoon and evening was creative wellness time at healthU. We created by tie-dyeing, making paracord bracelets, and making friendship bracelets. It’s a great way to relax!

Appreciating nature is part of environmental wellness. We walked back on steep, narrow, rocky paths to the cave that Canter’s Cave is named after, appreciating the flora and fauna along the way.

Ryan Kline, 4-H/ FCS Educator from Ross County, led the group through activities on friendship, addressing social health.

We’re all about the 4th H this weekend at HealthU!

Application for 2023-2024 Ohio 4-H Health HEROES are open. This statewide teen healthy living advocacy group are called HEROES because they serve as Health Education Resources for Outreach, Engagement, and Service. Youth will learn about current issues and topics in healthy living, learn lessons and activities to implement in their local 4-H community, will be tasked to create an action plan to create change in their local community, and will be a part of a statewide cohort who cares about the health and well-being of Ohio youth.

Benefits of becoming a 4-H Health Hero are:

- Learning about a variety of healthy living topics
- Gaining valuable leadership and communication skills
- Meeting other 4-H youth from across Ohio who are invested in healthy living
- Leaving a positive impact on your family, friends, and community
- Promoting the 4th H!

In previous years we have had youth focus on making change in health topics such as; mental health, va**ng, opioids, and more.

Youth who are passionate about health and in grades 9 through 12 may apply! For more information, important dates, and expectations, you may check out https://go.osu.edu/HealthHEROES. Application is due Sunday, October 15th, 2023 by 11:59 pm.

Any questions, you may contact Justin Bower, State 4-H Healthy Living and Ohio Military Kids Educator at [email protected] or at 614-247-1979.

Are you a 4-H'er interested in health? Do you see yourself potentially working in health one day? Nutritionist? Therapist? Nurse? Athletic Trainer? Geneticist? If your answer is 'Yes,' then Health University might be for you.

What: Health University (HealthU) is a weekend camp in October focused on Healthy Living for 7th through 12th graders in Ohio 4-H. Join us at Canter's Cave 4-H Camp for a weekend as we explore four of the 10 Dimensions of Wellness and explore health-related careers. We will be exploring the following four tracks of wellness:

Physical wellness allows a person to engage in activities of daily living without experiencing undue fatigue or exhaustion. The physical dimension of wellness is supported through health behaviors, which include exercise, eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol intake, not smoking, and getting adequate sleep each night.

Emotional wellness involves recognizing, accepting, and expressing feelings. Adequate rest is required for wellness in this dimension. If an individual’s mental function is hindered by stress and lack of sleep, they may struggle with accurately assessing a situation which then triggers negative emotional responses and disrupts emotional wellness.

Social wellness requires the ability to trust and respect other people and leads to the creation of supportive partnerships and friendships. Being socially well allows one to develop and maintain intimacy, and to have empathy and respect for others.
Creative wellness allows a person to appreciate and/or participate in a diverse range of arts or cultural experiences, and to value and cherish the surrounding world. Freely expressing thoughts and emotions through dance, song, drawing, painting, or writing are some of the ways to engage in creative wellness.

Who: Any current 4-H'ers in grades 7-12.

When: Friday, October 27 to Sunday, October 28, 2023

Where: Canter's Cave 4-H Camp, 1362 Caves Rd, Jackson, OH 45640

Cost: $50 per youth (check or card)

Deadline: Register by 11:59pm, Sunday October 8th

Registration: https://go.osu.edu/4HHealthEvents

Contact: Justin Bower, [email protected], with questions.