Hocking County 4-H Club 4th H for Health Challenge
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Date
2018-04
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ohio State University. Office of Outreach and Engagement
Abstract
Results of the 2016 4-H Healthy Living Club Practices Assessment completed by 4-H club advisors in Hocking County showed a need to focus on the 4th H in 4-H, which is health. As a result, the Hocking County 4th H for Health 4-H Club Challenge was adapted from the 4th H for Health Challenge developed by Tufts University in partnership with the 4-H Healthy Living management team and used as a tool to challenge 4-H clubs to make healthy habits the new norm during meetings. The challenge was to serve a fruit or vegetable snack at three meetings, serve water as the primary beverage at six meetings, and do 15 minutes of physical activity at all of the club's meetings. Although all clubs were encouraged to take the challenge, participation was optional. Nine 4-H clubs submitted the 4th H for Health Challenge tracker at the end of the year. A 4th H for Health Challenge celebration was held on in October 2017 at Camp Otterbein as a reward for clubs who completed the challenge.
Description
The 2016 4-H Healthy Living Club Practices Assessment was completed by organizational 4-H advisors from 24 4-H clubs in Hocking County. Results showed that the foods served most often at club meetings were: chips – 85 percent, baked snacks – 75 percent; and pizza – 75 percent. Water was the most often-served beverage at 100 percent, although other beverages were also offered. Fruit-flavored drinks (e.g. Kool Aid) scored 79 percent; pop received 74 percent; and artificially sweetened fruit juice was 72 percent. Eight of the 24 clubs (33.3 percent) "always" allotted time for regular physical activity. However the majority (54 percent) did "sometimes," and 12.5 percent "rarely or never" did physical activity. The 4th H for Health 4-H Club Challenge was a tool used to make healthy habits the norm during 4-H club meetings. The overall long-term goal of this project was to improve the health of youth. Short-term goals for 4-H clubs were to: increase awareness of healthy snack choices; provide fruits or vegetables as 4-H club snacks and water as the primary beverage; and to participate in physical activity. The Hocking County 4th H for Health 4-H Club Challenge was adapted from the 4th H for Health Challenge developed by Tufts University in partnership with the 4-H Healthy Living Management Team. The challenge was to serve a fruit or vegetable snack at three meetings; serve water as the primary beverage at six meetings; and do 15 minutes of physical activity at all of the club's meetings. Although all clubs were encouraged to partake, participating in the challenge was optional. The largest hurdle to overcome with the 4-H Club Health Challenge was the volunteers' perspective of what children will eat. Several volunteers commented about how surprised they were to see how well their members ate fruits and vegetables. Nine 4-H clubs submitted the 4th H for Health Challenge Tracker at the end of the year. A 4th H for Health Challenge Celebration was held on October 15, 2017 at Camp Otterbein as a reward for clubs that successfully completed the challenge. Each 4-H member and volunteer was given the opportunity to climb a 30-foot rock wall or go ziplining at Camp Otterbein. The 4-H junior leaders led field games, and a gau gau pit was available. A fun time was had by all.
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Joyce Shriner, Educator, 4-H Youth Development/County Director, The Ohio State University Extension, Hocking County, shriner.3@osu.edu (Corresponding Author).
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Joyce Shriner, Educator, 4-H Youth Development/County Director, The Ohio State University Extension, Hocking County, shriner.3@osu.edu (Corresponding Author).
Keywords
health education, positive youth development, fitness, program planning
Citation
Engaged Scholars, v. 6 (2018).