WELCOME TO MICHIGAN 4-H FOUNDATION

Empowering healthy lifestyle choices for a healthier generation



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Michigan youth will make healthy life choices.

Campaign Priority: 4-H Healthy Lifestyles
Campaign Goal: $500,000

Helping youth develop healthy habits and attitudes about food, nutrition and physical activity can help to ensure that they develop healthy lifestyles in adulthood. Today’s high rates of obesity and chronic disease are wreaking havoc on families physically, mentally and financially. Instilling youth with the skills and knowledge to make healthy choices throughout their lives can reduce this stress and build a healthier generation.

Michigan 4-H Youth Development is helping to build this future generation by teaching youth about food, nutrition, physical activity and personal well-being. As a result of these various programs and activities, youth learn to make proactive decisions about healthy lifestyles, now and in the future.

In the 2015-2016 program year, 4-H healthy living programming reached 3,435 Michigan youth, including:

  • 54 youth aged 9 to 12 who learned about topics such as mindfulness, cooking and food preservation at the 4-H Challenge U Funfest.
  • 153 participants at 4-H Mentoring Weekend, which featured a healthy living focus through sessions including healthy beverage choices, stress management and relaxing.
  • 12 youth who explored the MSU Food Science and Human Nutrition Department and experienced hands-on learning about kinesiology, food and related topics during the first 4-H Health and Food Science Camp.

Xavier’s Story

Xavier, of Wayne County, learned about 4-H through 4-H Exploration Days in June 2016. He enjoyed Exploration Days so much that he went back home to figure out how he could get more involved in 4-H. He was the only youth from Michigan to attend the WalMart Youth Voice Youth Choice Training in Washington, D.C., and decided to continue his involvement with 4-H health programs by becoming a 4-H Healthy Living Ambassador in his local community to help spark change there.Xavier, of Wayne County, learned about 4-H through 4-H Exploration Days in June 2016. He enjoyed Exploration Days so much that he went back home to figure out how he could get more involved in 4-H. He was the only youth from Michigan to attend the WalMart Youth Voice Youth Choice Training in Washington, D.C., and decided to continue his involvement with 4-H health programs by becoming a 4-H Healthy Living Ambassador in his local community to help spark change there.

The Walmart Healthy Living Youth Voice Youth Choice Grant empowers youth to be change agents at the community level in their hometowns. Xavier is excited and can’t wait to get started.