Youth 4 Youth Activities

 Keep It Simple, Keep It Fun, Keep It Safe

Schools out for Summer!

Congratulations!  You've just come through another successful school year.  Finals are finally over!  It's time to get outside, have some fun and get ready to soak up all that summertime sun (don't forget the sunscreen).  What a great reason for friends to get together during these often hazy, sometimes lazy, always crazy days of summer.   And since you're probably going to do that anyway, why not put a little purpose into some of that fun? That's what the Youth 4 Youth Challenge is really all about...Fun with a Purpose!

That's what our focus group of high school youth had in mind when they helped us come up with a list of ideas and activities to include in our four month challenge.  They wanted to keep it simple; they wanted to keep it fun; and, they wanted to keep it safe!...okay, okay...mostly the adults in our group wanted to keep it safe; but at least our teen advisors wanted to keep things appropriate for the different age groups who would range from 10 to 18 years old. 

So with that in mind, our group started putting together a list of ideas and activities and grouped them into the following categories:

1. Activities that promote a sense of individual health (physical, mental, social, spiritual);
2. Activities that promote team spirit; and,
3. Activities that promote service to others (or to a community).

We also tried to include everyday activities, local events of interest, and ideas that could be modified to suit the needs of individual groups.  Finally, we wanted to create opportunities for groups to connect with their community by getting to know more about those organizations who are working together to help make St. Clair County (and our youth) the Healthiest County in America. 

To give you a sneak preview of how things will work as well as some of the activities that our focus group selected, check out some of the lists below. 

1. Beginning June 1st, we'll post a list of ideas, activities, resources and contacts to help your group get started and stay on track.  Each activity will also have a point value as well as an option for bonus points.  We'll start out with a few suggested activities for each of the three categories and add to it as the summer goes along.  
2. Once your group representative reports your progress to us (and we suggest doing this once a week or every other week), we'll tally your points and post your team score on our Youth 4 Youth 'Wall of Fame.' 
3. Throughout the four-month challenge period, our youth advisory team will help us review the overall progress that groups are making so that we can make any appropriate modifications based on the number, type and size of the groups involved.  One of our goals throughout the summer is to sign up enough teams and award categories to make for an exciting October 16th Celebration on the Campus of McKendree University.  Watch for more details on this event later in June.
4. Final Group prizes will be awarded in October but we also plan on making several incentives and maybe even some surprise drawings and awards available along the way.  Think of it as a geo-caching journey to better health.

Remember - keep it simple, keep it fun and keep it safe.  Enjoy your summer journey and let us know what you think of some of our healthful stops along the way.  Be sure to email us with questions or comments at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The sneak preview lists below includes a few ideas that our youth advisory team came up with under each category.  Beginning June 1st, we will post a weekly activity list for your group to use as you begin your Challenge.  Each activity will have a point value and your group may even have opportunbities to earn bonus points.

Health Improvement

Activity Goals: to promote a sense of personal health improvement, awareness of and preparation for the health risks and challenges confronting young people in today’s culture. This includes a broad definition of health as being physical, mental, social and spiritual.  Some of the activities that your group can participate in are listed below.

• Participate in an organized event that features activities such as walking, running, bicycling, etc.
• Listen to a guest speaker or presentation on a health topic chosen by your group (diet and health, smoking prevention, stress management, dating violence, teenage pregnancy prevention, alcohol and other substance abuse prevention)
• Make a poster about a health topic of your choice and ask your representing organization to put it on display.
• Make a healthy snack and bring it to your next group meeting (bonus points for sharing the recipe with us online).
• Visit a local food co-op or farmers market and sample some of their fresh produce.
• Start and keep a physical fitness and healthy diet journal as a group (maybe even set a group goal to start and keep a healthy habit).
• Visit any one of the organizations who are part of the St. Clair County Youth Coalition and learn something about some of their programs.
• Visit the Get Up & Go! website and write a 2-3 paragraph summary of what you think the campaign represents.

Activity Goal: to promote a sense of team spirit and team work. This may include almost anything you do as a group (except food fights, arguments, gossip and trash talk).  Some of the activities that your group can participate in are listed below.

• Having regular meetings as a group (anywhere between 1-4 times a month).
• Coming up with a group name or purpose (you may already have that one done, so claim the points already).
• Doing "group mixers" (use our suggested list or come up with your own).
• Attending local community events together (refer to our Community Calendar for times and places).
• Going bowling or going to a movie with an ice cream social afterwards (yes, you can claim team building points for this).
• Doing something together to benefit your sponsoring organization (weed pulling, litter pick-up, etc.).
• Make a team goal that gets everyone involved in contributing their part (recycle X number of pounds of paper or aluminum, or walking X number of miles over the summer, etc.)

Service to Community

Activity Goal: to promote a sense of civic responsibility and an awareness of “community connectedness.” Some of the activities that your group can participate in are listed below.

• Volunteer to help out at a community benefit event that supports healthy living (we’ll even try to keep track of events that could use some help for things such as set-up, clean-up, stationing water tables, cheering on participants, etc.)
• Volunteer to help prepare healthy snacks, meals or activities for groups within your organization or other community organizations that could use a little assistance.
• Prepare a health-related poster or presentation for another group and present it as a team.
• Organize and implement a yard clean-up for someone in your neighborhood who could use some assistance.
• Participate in an organized clean-up event that benefits a school, church or community.
• Learn about and do something to benefit local service organizations such as homeless shelters, transitional living facilities, food pantries, etc.
• Doing something together to benefit your sponsoring organization (weed pulling, litter pick-up, etc.).
• Make a team goal that gets everyone involved in contributing their part (recycle X number of pounds of paper or aluminum, or walking X number of miles over the summer, etc.)

 For additional information, watch for updates on this website or contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This initiative is made possible through a cooperative agreement with the St. Clair County Health Department through grant funds provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Human Services.