Each year, the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors select a service theme to engage all Minnesota 4-H youth in learning about a community issue and taking steps to make a positive, collective impact.
The theme is determined by input collected from youth at leadership conferences, 4-H staff across the state and the State Ambassadors.
2025-26 service theme: Disaster Relief and Emergency Response
Disaster relief and emergency response is a critical area of community support that calls for awareness, preparedness and compassion. From natural disasters to public health emergencies to humanitarian aid efforts, there are urgent needs at every level: local, state, national and global.
The 4-H State Ambassador service committee is leading 4-H youth in an effort to address these needs with their statewide service project. Their goal is to educate people about disaster relief and emergency response and empower youth to make an impact within 4-H and beyond.
The committee will share seasonal and real-time topics that are educational and action-oriented to allow youth to:
- Learn about emergency response efforts in the real world
- Teach others about the importance of being prepared and how to respond in an emergency
- Lead in community action and response efforts
We invite you to be part of this important work by learning, leading and serving alongside youth across the state. Your involvement can help create safer, more resilient communities where everyone is empowered to respond in times of need.
Summer service project
Helping after a disaster
This summer, the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors are addressing disaster relief and emergency response by focusing on how we recover, rebuild and support each other after a disaster.
Disaster recovery happens in three main phases
- Immediate relief – This is the first response. It includes ensuring safety and providing food, water, shelter and emergency medical care.
- Short-term recovery – Communities begin to stabilize. This may include cleaning up debris, restoring basic services and helping families return to daily routines.
- Long-term rebuilding – This phase can take months or even years. It focuses on rebuilding homes, restoring infrastructure and supporting emotional recovery.
Even small acts of kindness, such as checking in on a neighbor or helping someone clean up their yard, can make a huge difference. After a disaster, people don’t just need supplies; they need connection, encouragement and hope.
Past seasonal challenges
Winter service project
Cold hands, warm hearts: winter weather preparedness
This winter, the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors are addressing disaster relief and emergency response through the topic of weather preparedness.
Cold temperatures, snow and ice can cause accidents and emergencies. Being prepared helps keep everyone safe during Minnesota’s winter months.
Winter weather can make travel difficult and create challenges for people who don’t have warm clothing, safe heating or basic supplies. These small obstacles can add up quickly during storms or extreme cold.
By planning ahead and learning simple winter safety skills, we can help our community stay safe, supported and prepared throughout the season.
Spring service project
Ready to respond
This spring, the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors are addressing disaster relief and emergency response through the topic of response readiness.
We want to share information on community alert systems, how to respond in scary situations and how to report an emergency.
We chose the theme of response readiness because having basic information on what to do in a crisis situation, such as who to call and what to say, can help in many types of disasters.
If youth are empowered with knowledge on what to do in dangerous situations, they are better able to keep themselves and their community safe.
Past statewide service themes
The 2024-25 statewide service theme was Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Review the learning and project ideas from this past theme.
Or, search by topic:
- Kindness: acts of kindness
- Loneliness: letter writing campaign
- Food insecurity: food collection drive
- Mindfulness: mindfulness activities
- Physical health: green space cleanup
- Mental health advocacy: training for youth and adults
Contact
Jacquie Lonning and Meg Clark, State Ambassador advisors, [email protected]
Reviewed in 2025