MAKING A DIFFERENCE NEWSLETTER - Issue 1, Volume 18 (Jan 2018) Issue 1 Volume 18 (Jan 2018) | Page 7

• Provide opportunities for participants to learn from other team members

• Promote teamwork

• Give participants opportunities for public speaking

• Provide leadership opportunities

• Give 4-H members the opportunity to participate in a new, exciting, competitive

event

M

Harris County Fair 3rd Annual Food Wrangler Challenge

Since 4‑H began more than 100 years ago, it has become the nation’s largest youth development organization. The 4‑H idea is simple: help young people and their families gain the skills needed to be proactive forces in their communities and develop ideas for a more innovative economy.

4‑H’s reach and depth is unmatched. In 4‑H, we believe in the power of young people. We see that every child has valuable strengths and real influence to improve the world around us. We are America’s largest youth development organization—empowering nearly six million young people across the U.S. with the skills to lead for a lifetime.

05

ore than 120,000 youth participate in the 4-H Food & Nutrition Project, learning how to prepare nutritious and safe meals and snacks and adopt behaviors that can help reduce their risk for chronic disease. This contest challenges teams of 4-H members to create a dish using only a predetermined set of ingredients. From these ingredients, team members must identify and prepare the dish, then make a presentation about it to the judges.

4-H Food Challenge Objective:

Provide opportunities for participants to exhibit their knowledge and skill when

preparing and presenting a dish

Unlike any other generation in history, today's kids are dealing with unique challenges and pressures. The most fundamental thing they'll need to thrive is to be healthy – in both body and mind. To help ensure that our leaders of tomorrow have the confidence and skills to make healthy decisions and lead healthy lifestyles, National 4-H Council has been awarded a grant from Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) for $500,000. Harris County 4-H and Family & Community Health agents were awarded $50,000 as part of the grant.

Driven by 4-H teen leaders, the 4-H Wellness 360º program leverages the proven influence of young people by engaging teens to lead and empower their peers and families to establish life-long healthy habits today. From nutrition education and cooking classes, to yoga and lessons on avoiding risky behaviors, 4-H Wellness 360º provides the framework to make sure today's youth have the knowledge and confidence to not only live a healthy life themselves, but to also help share their knowledge with their peers and families.

Harris County agents are partnering with 4 local high and middle schools to train Health Ambassadors to deliver the health message to their peers, families and communities.

On December 8-10, 50 students and 7 teachers/volunteers from CyLakes High School,

DeKaney High School, Eisenhower High School and KIPP Connect Middle School attended a training camp at Forest Glen Camp in Huntsville, Texas. During the camp students attended sessions on team building, foods and nutrition, social emotional well-being and civic engagement. Students were assigned to groups and were provided topics and resources to develop presentations that they can deliver at local elementary schools. Group topics were bullying, MyPlate groups, social emotional health and physical activity.

Combining work and a little play, youth participated in some camp recreational activities such as a campfire where they roasted hot dogs and made smores, Zip Line, canoeing, archery/BB guns, basketball and fishing. The students were excited for the opportunity and look forward to serving as Health Ambassadors in 2018.

hARRIS COUNTY 4-H WELLNESS 360° Health ambassador Training Camp

URBAN youth development