Healthy Living
Idaho's 4-H health and wellness programs focus on supporting youth, families and communities to be healthy and to thrive. Programs incorporate both mind (social and emotional well-being) and body (fitness, health, nutrition and safety).
True Leaders in Equity Institute
Idaho True Leaders in Equity health advocates completed a two-year project on nutrition and hydration for student athletes. Learn how they set up and delivered this or similar projects in the report Equitable Access for Student Athlete Nutrition (pdf).
Find additional information on the nutrition and hydration project in the impact statements.
- 4-H health advocates lead change for nutrition equity at Caldwell High School, July 2023 (pdf).
- 4-H health advocates’ nutrition and hydration project supports high school athletes, June 2024 (pdf).
True Leaders in Equity Institute is host by National 4-H Council very July in Washington DC. True Leaders in Equity Institute prepares delegations to be change agents within Extension as we work to create more welcoming and inclusive environments. This training and leadership opportunity challenges participants to work together to ideate and champion equity-related projects that will grow 4-H in their communities.
Healthy Habits
Eat Smart Idaho partners with 4-H to deliver 6-8 hours of nutrition education to limited-resourced youth throughout the state. Contact Eat Smart Idaho to learn more about specific lessons and scheduling.
C-A-R Chat — Communication, Awareness and Respect
C-A-R Chat activities are designed to be used with children and middle school students. These quick (5-10 minutes) activities teach kids:
- Communication strategies
- How to be aware of their needs
- How to respect themselves and others
Teen advocates have used the activities at county day camps, volunteer leader forum and presented at the National Youth Healthy Living Summit in 2018. C-A-R Chat Activities (PDF) are easy to use by both teen leaders and volunteers.
Health Advocates
Health advocates work with faculty and staff to implement 4-H health and wellness programs. These programs may include teaching nutrition lessons to children and leading health-focused action projects. Teens learn nutrition, food preparation, cooking, shopping skills, social-emotional health and how to take healthy action within the community.
Teen advocates:
- Receive training on the best healthy living strategies
- Volunteer within the community and county, promoting health equity — nutrition, physical activity and emotional well-being
- Gain excellent leadership experience for college applications and future jobs
For additional information please contact Maureen Toomey.
Ignite by 4-H Summit
The Ignite Summit is a four-day event in Washington D.C. where high-school aged teens connect, make memories and find their spark by exploring the best 4-H has to offer in STEM, Agriscience, Healthy Living, Career Readiness and Emotional Well-Being. Idaho's 4-H sends a delegation of teens to this event each year. Teens are expected to implement an action project in their county, reservation or community, upon return from the conference.
The number of youth invited to attend Ignite each year is based on available program grant funds received by Idaho's 4-H. All registrations must be coordinated through the state 4-H office. For more information, contact Mike Knutz.
- Extension's National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being
- 4-H True Leaders in Equity Institute and Challenge
- Supporting the Out-of-School Time Workforce in Fostering Intentional Social and Emotional Learning
- Supporting Teens' Professional Identities and Engagement in Mindfulness Practices Through Teens-as-Teachers Programming
- Youth Social and Emotional Learning in Quality Enhanced Out-of-School Time Programs