Become a 4-H Volunteer
Volunteers help make 4-H possible.
In order to volunteer, previous 4-H Youth Development experience is not necessary. The most important qualification is a desire to work with young people, helping them gain life skills and providing them positive experiences. Please consider sharing your time and talents! Volunteers extend the resources of UW-Extension as they work with staff to deliver educational programs. Volunteering is a privilege.
Types of Volunteers
Project Volunteer – Share your skills, talents and special interests in a single project area. For example: photography, arts, foods, community service, rocketry and robotics, gardening, rabbits, dairy, etc.
4-H Club Team Volunteer – Provides 4-H club leadership. Can be an individual, a team, or a group of people that have specific roles that fulfill the 4-H Club Leader responsibilities. Team members can be a youth-adult partnership.
Youth Volunteer – 4-H member who develops leadership skills and teaches other 4-H members. Serve as a youth leader, camp counselor, committee chair, etc.
Short Term Volunteer – Teach a special interest program, and/or assist a 4-H group with a special project.
Afterschool / School Enrichment Volunteer – Teach a short-term 4-H curriculum to a class (or classes) of school children.
In addition, 4-H volunteers have the opportunity to provide additional support to the program as:
Chaperones – for 4-H youth development experiences must have completed the Youth Protection Process; be enrolled 4-H volunteer leaders and be over 21 years of age (for some experiences adults must be over 25).
Steps to Becoming a Volunteer
- Decide what type of volunteer you would like to be
- Choose a club and/or project
- Contact Sky Holt (4-H/Youth Development Programs, 715-634-4839, sky.holt@wisc.edu) to finalize details and discuss any issues or questions.
- Enroll through 4Honline
*All adult volunteers 18 and older are required to complete the Wisconsin 4-H Youth Protection program, which includes:
- a background check for arrest and conviction records
- participation in the Volunteers in Preparation Training
- annually signing the Extension Volunteer Behavior Expectations
- completing the Mandated Reporter Training.
