By Sue Henry

Around Michigan, teams of 4-H teens are taking the lead in providing health education to encourage lifestyles for young people that reflect the fourth “H”! Through the energy and commitment of these teen 4-H’ers, other young people – and adults – are learning skills to make healthy choices and build healthier lifestyles by exploring nutrition, physical fitness, tobacco use prevention, and cancer prevention through sun safety.

With support from an Agrium Industries grant to the Michigan 4-H Foundation, six counties now have teams of teens providing education about healthy lifestyles in schools, 4-H clubs, camps, community youth programs and county fairs:

Antrim County: The “Notorious Nutritionists” from Mancelona High School are a team of six teens who have used the 4-H Jump Into Foods and Fitness curriculum to develop a nutrition and fitness program. The team has helped fifth-grade students explore nutrition, exercise and the importance of drinking water. As a result of the team’s work, a local school brought in Rene Bibaud, a jump rope performance artist and five-time World Skipping Champion, to continue to generate local enthusiasm around physical fitness.

Bay County: After training with an MSU Extension nutrition educator and with a local librarian to learn puppetry skills, the Bay County team developed a nutrition-focused puppet show for elementary and preschool children. These teens, who are part of the Teen Action Through Citizenship and Leadership afterschool project, use the puppets to showcase healthy eating and physical activity. In addition to working with younger school children, the team has demonstrated their program at libraries and the Bay County Fair and Exposition.

Calhoun County: Using Double Dutch jump roping as their focus, the team of teens in Calhoun County is leading activities with younger youth that incorporate nutrition, health, leadership and physical activity. According to Tywnetta Jones, 4-H VISTA member and program coordinator at one of the afterschool initiatives, this approach makes sense because “not everyone wants to join a team but everyone wants to have fun with their friends!” The five teens leading the program are making plans to take their Double Dutch approach to many programs during the year.

Osceola, Mecosta and Lake counties: Eight teen leaders from these three counties have been working to promote health and fitness in local schools, county fairs and a summer camp held at Kettunen Center in Tustin. According to an article written in the Tustin Elementary School newsletter by Principal Barbara Parmenter, the teens’ program for fourth graders helped “promote a healthy lifestyle for our children” through activities that the children really enjoyed. The team is currently planning “Kids and Family Fun, Food and Fitness Days” events to take place this fall in Osceola and Mecosta counties.

For more information on ways that you and the teens you work with can help young people lead healthy lifestyles, contact your county MSU Extension office or visit the Michigan 4-H health Web site.