4-H Walking Program Helps Teens Deal with Covid-19:

“If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.”-Socrates

A healthy workforce was one of the needs identified by the Pike County Extension Council.  4-H Council parents expressed concern over the obesity and health of our 4-H Teen Leadership members.  For that reason, in February, we started a 4-H Teen Walking Challenge for our teens.  For three months, the group not only walked but recorded their steps via a cell phone application and forwarded the results to our office.  

Though we could not meet face to face, the group continued this activity.  The Pike County 4-H Council gave the top three walkers monetary prizes.  The results of this challenge are amazing!  The group walked over 10,000 steps! Thus we created the 4-H Steps Challenge for our Pike County 4-H Teen Council.  Using an app to track their steps, the youth reported for three and a half months on their steps.  The campaign has just ended with amazing results.  Twenty 4-H teens participated in this challenge.  Of the teens reporting, this group of young people walked 1052 miles!  And the young teen that was morbidly obese, walked 66 miles!  One parent commented, “My son is out there walking with his friend and determined to get in his steps!”  She shared that he is usually not very active.   .  Comments from the group included the following, “The 4-H Step challenge help me with Corona virus stress by getting out away from everything and walking.  I feel better because I know my true ability that I can keep a good distance.  The challenge also helped me get close to some of my competitors” (-Cassie.)  Still another 4-H member stated, “While walking I have lost weight and helped with keeping busy over the time we were stuck at home. I’m also going to try and keep the walking over the summer. I lost five pounds”- Angel.  

The Pike County 4-H Program is creating a healthier workforce byi teaching SNAP Education skills and encouraging physcial activity.  4-H is making the best better!