Welcome to the 4-H Health Project page. This space provides resources for personal fitness, emotional well-being, and mental health. It’s a place for 4-H members to embark on a journey towards holistic health.
Projects include:
- Sports Nutrition: Ready, Set, Go: Eating well and exercising daily are keys to a healthy life. This project shows why these habits are worth forming. Learn how to balance the calories you eat with the calories you burn, why you hydrate, and how carbs, protein, and fats work to support your body and mind. Use what you learn as you compete in sports or want to increase your fitness level. Designed for the 4-H member and is appropriate for the intermediate skill level. Check out the SPARK Sheet!
- Everyday Food and Fitness: Learn how to prepare healthy and hearty snacks using MyPlate as a guide and discover how powerful healthy food can be for your body and mind. Fun and easy recipes help build your skills in the kitchen. See how well your current diet fits into the MyPlate food groups. Find out what makes grains great and why vitamins and nutrients are so beneficial. This project shows you how to add exercise to a healthy diet and find the path to a better quality of life.
- Your Thoughts Matter: Navigating Mental Health is Intended for advanced-level youth who are interested in learning more about mental health, why it is important to overall well-being, and steps that promote understanding and action. This project is not intended as a resource for those in crisis.
- Your Feelings Matter: This project lets you explore what emotions are, how to express them, and how to react to them positively. After this project, you’ll have techniques to help you through any emotional situation. This project is aimed at youth who are just beginning to explore healthy living topics.
- Health Innovation: Health Project Learning for topics not covered in the project offerings.
Links to project guides and resources are located at the bottom of this page.
Put Your Project Into Action
Show Your Skills
- Display about how nutrients affect the body
- Make a video of proper stretching exercises and techniques
- Present ideas to community leaders for walking paths and bike trails in your town
Service and Leadership
- Volunteer at a nursing home or hospital
- Organize a project to assemble first aid kits in your community
- Plan a clean-up effort at a local park, playground, or bike trail
- Help to organize a health fair in your community
- Serve as a 4-H Health Ambassador
Entrepreneurship
- Design and create family emergency kits to sell
- Plan and lead a group fitness class at a local park
- Plan health and fitness themed birthday parties for kids
Technology Connection
- Wellness apps
- Drones deliver AEDs
- Mechanical CPR
- Virtual reality
- Smart clothing
Connecting with a Mentor
- Job shadow with a local health care professional
- Tour a hospital or health care facility
Events
- 4-H Illini Summer Academies
- 4-H Health Rocks
- 4-H Health Jam
- Be SAFE
- 4-H Memorial Camp counselor
- Local summer youth camps
- American Red Cross youth classes
- Local community health fairs
Credits
4-H Spark Sheets are a collaborative effort of 4-H staff, volunteers, alumni and teens from across Illinois. A big thanks to the many contributors and reviewers!
Resources