Success Story4-H Run Club



4-H Run Club

Author: Brandon Darst

Planning Unit: Madison County CES

Major Program: Health

Plan of Work: Fostering Healthy Communities and Families

Outcome: Initial Outcome

   

According to Kentucky Health News, Kentucky ranks 3rd in child obesity, a disease tied to a long list of other health issues; treatment requires changes in family lifestyle. On top of the growing rates of childhood obesity, families were forced to navigate through a pandemic. COVID-19 changed a lot of dynamics with families. Parents were reluctant to let their kids play outdoors in fear of them catching the virus. 

In an effort to get children in Madison County moving and consequently their whole family. The 4-H Agent created a run club that would meet once a week on Zoom. Each week the 4-H Agent prepared a lesson on the essentials of learning to run.  These lessons included the items needed for running such as comfortable shoes, proper clothing, different Apps to download to help track your running, hydration tips, and the proper nutrition needed for the body in preparation for physical activity.   This club also included several tips and recipes from the SNAP ED newsletters.  Each week we would end the meeting with a nutrition lesson and have the kids share what they ate that week to help their bodies. 

This class met virtually for four weeks and then two weeks they were assigned a physical activity to complete.  These meetings also served as an accountability group that the kids were very encouraging to one another. One of the benefits to this group was parents were invited to participate. We saw an increase in parent participation as they sat through the meetings with their kids, they asked questions along with their child, and said they ran with child.  

On top of the 4-H Run Club, we did have an accumulating event with 4-H hosting their first ever virtual 5k. The meetings were used to give tips on how to prepare for running a 5k using the Couch to 5k plan.  The parents and children had eight weeks to prepare and then run their own 5k together.  

The 4-H Run Club had ten members who participated.   Out of the ten, eight had no experience in running.  100% of the kids who participated recorded that they felt happier and less stress since they have been running.  100% of the kids who participated recorded that they have been going outdoors for more than 6 hours.  50% mentioned they have eaten more vegetables to help their bodies recover. 100% said this club was a place they could figure things out on their own and felt they could be a leader.   






Stories by Brandon Darst


Waco Elementary: Going with the Flow

about 1 months ago by Brandon Darst

According to NOAA, water quality is a complex issue, impacted by pollution, weather, tides, human ac... Read More


Stories by Madison County CES


2024 Farm City Banquet

2024 Farm City Banquet

about 10 days ago by Amanda Sears

The face of Kentucky is changing. In the last 20 years the state has lost17,000 farmsand 1.4 million... Read More


Controlling Invasive Plants

Controlling Invasive Plants

about 14 days ago by Amanda Sears

Invasive plants can have major biological, economical and aesthetic impacts on Kentucky by degrading... Read More