We would like to invite YOU to become part of an innovative youth volunteer opportunity involving a community service project promoting physical fitness for children and families in Tuscarawas County. Our office has received mini-grant funding from the Ohio 4-H Foundation for a project called Walking and Reading Your Way to Better Health. This project builds on our popular community summer walking program which has included a partnership with the county's public libraries for the past five years.

Youth involved in this project will gain experience in project planning and implementation as well as knowledge of how local governments work. This is also a great opportunity to expand on your 4-H leadership and citizenship experiences and may be a jump start for those interested in becoming 4-H Junior Leaders and applying for camp counselor and junior fair positions.

Older 4-H youth will partner with public libraries to plan simple 1/4 or 1/2 mile walking routes which will begin and end at the library. Durable outdoor signage will be manufactured and posted outside of each library to display the walking path and provide a visible reminder of the importance of physical activity.

Volunteer youth will also model healthy behaviors by planning and participating in at least one group walk for children in their communities next spring. Groups may decide to expand on these events by including activities to encourage interest in phycial activity and healthy eating. The organized walks will serve as an opportunity to promote pedestrian safety as well as continued healthy habits through participation in the 2010 summer walking program.

An event to celebrate the accomplishments of all those involved with the Walking and Reading Your Way to Better Health project and kick-off the 2010 FYI community summer walking program will be held at the Tuscarawas County fairgrounds in early May.

Meetings will be held monthly at Tuscarawas County's office of the Ohio State University Extension in New Philadelphia between November and May. We are very aware of the commitments that teens involved in several activities already have and will schedule meetings for a time that will suit as many participants as possible. For those students with school community service requirements, we estimate that this project will involve 16-20 hours of volunteer time.

An organizational meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 10 at 7 p.m. Please RSVP by calling 330-339-2337. If you have questions or are interested in being a part of this special project but are unable to attend this meeting, please email Linda or phone the office and leave a message.

Sincerely,

Chris Kendle
Linda Krupa
Barb Airgood