What kind of 4-H volunteer opportunities are available?
- 4-H Club Leader: Work in partnership with youth ages 8-19 to develop citizenship, leadership, and life skills. Whether you want to oversee a general club or focus on a specific topic, you’ll help young people learn the importance of record keeping, public speaking, and service learning, while learning new skills and having fun.
- 4-H Cloverbud Leader: Work with young children ages 5-7 to introduce them to a wide variety of hands-on activities that will help them develop social skills, begin to learn about the world of 4-H, and have fun.
- 4-H Chaperone: Provide transportation or simply go with a youth group to a special event or activity. This could be for local, state or even national 4-H events.
- 4-H Project Leader: Share your skills, talents or special interests such as photography, horses, dogs, rabbits, sewing, computers or woodworking. In this role, you may be called upon to offer a number of sessions at an afterschool program, or assist a club leader by sharing your expertise and working with their club members.
- Episodic 4-H Volunteer: We have a variety of volunteer opportunities that don’t require a long-term commitment. Judging at the fair, helping with a specific fundraiser, assisting with a garden project, scoring 4-H record books, or organizing an annual county event to name a few.
Steps to becoming a 4-H volunteer or leader:
1. Enroll as a volunteer in ZSuite: https://4h.zsuite.org/
2. Complete the New Volunteer Orientation
3. Complete the background check through the UW Department of Human Resources. The University will email you instructions.
4. Complete the Motor Vehicle Records Check through UW Risk Management.
5. You’ll receive an email when you are approved. You may then begin working directly with youth.
Requirements for Returning 4-H Volunteers
- Annual enrollment as a volunteer in ZSuite: https://4h.zsuite.org/
- Screening is updated every 5 years of consecutive leadership.
- Training is required every 5 years.
- Motor Vehicle Records Check should be updated in January every year