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The Healthy Living Ambassadors are a team of Illinois 4-H youth leaders who are passionate about promoting and developing health initiatives throughout the state. Members will have opportunities to expand their leadership skills and increase their knowledge of healthy living topics to become youth experts and advocates within their communities and the state. The team works together to plan and lead healthy living programs and events to improve relevant health outcomes for youth and their families in Illinois. Members serve a term of two years and may apply for an additional two year term if they are still age eligible.
Eligibility and Requirements
- Be an active 4-H member who is currently enrolled in, or has just graduated high school, and be between the ages of 13 and 18 upon application.
- Be passionate about Healthy Living issues, have strong leadership skills, and be committed to 4-H values.
- Attend at least one day of the Illinois State Fair and a 1-2 day team retreat each year.
- Attend at least one training of your choice per year (within or outside of 4-H) to learn or improve leadership skills or Healthy Living knowledge.
- Play an active role in planning and attending at least one Healthy Living initiative per year.
- Provide leadership and support of Healthy Living programming in your community and send quarterly reports about your work (4 times a year) to the Team Leader and your county Extension staff.
Benefits
- Expand knowledge in Healthy Living issues and topics
- Develop skills in leadership, communication, public presentation, organization and planning, citizenship, community service, and team building
- Collaborate with other youth to plan and lead engaging programs, events, workshops, and initiatives to promote Healthy Living across the state
- Explore and promote careers in the health field
- Travel to different cities in Illinois to participate in trainings, events, and programs with other youth
- Gain important leadership and professional experiences for college applications and resumes
Meetings:
- Once a month, for an hour, on a weekday evening.
- Meetings are usually virtual, but there may be 1-2 in person meetings per year at varying locations, depending on team needs.
- Team members must attend at least 75% of the scheduled virtual calls each year.
