FAIRMONT — Martin County 4-H Ambassadors will be hosting a free virtual seminar for area teens from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. The seminar will focus on mental health and well-being.

Specifically, the 4-H Ambassadors will focus on helping their peers find healthy ways to cope with the stress, anxiety, and disappointment caused by the pandemic. To that end, they are teaming up with Martin County public health experts to provide the seminar. Ambassadors Jazlyn and Misty Geerdes explain.

“We came up with this idea because since COVID has hit, everyone has been locked down and not able to go places,” said Jazlyn. “We noticed that lots of kids, and even adults, are very stressed out lately. We were hoping that if kids participate in this they will take away the thought that even though there’s these tough times, they’re going to make it through and it’s going to be alright in the end and that we’re all in this together.”

The pair have been working with SHIP Coordinator Caroline McCourt and Behavioral Health Program Manager Anna Garbers, to ensure that expert resources and information are provided.

“They’ve been very helpful,” the girls said. “They’re going to help us with engaging and doing hands-on activities.”

According to information provided by Martin County 4-H, the seminar will include engaging activities, resources, information, and open discussion with peers. Though experts will be presenters during the seminar, the 4-H Ambassadors will serve as the hosts to ensure that the event is a youth-led and youth-focused seminar.

The Martin County 4-H Ambassador program is a youth leadership program for youth in grades 7 and up. Over the course of a year, Ambassadors learn new leadership, team-building, and communication skills; complete service learning projects; and teach youth around Martin County about 4-H.

Held over Zoom, a link for the seminar will be provided upon registration. The girls noted that while February 10 was the original due date for registration, kids in grades 7 through 12 can still get their registration in today.

Those interested in registering for the event can call at (507) 235-3341, or register online at:

https://extension.umn.edu/event/martin-county-4-h-teen-mental-health-well-being-seminar