Volunteer Resources
For any questions or needs regarding California 4-H policies, you can visit the official California 4-H policies page using the link above. It is a comprehensive resource to help navigate the policies related to 4-H programs, ensuring that you have all the necessary information to participate in and manage 4-H activities.
Whether you're a member, volunteer, or staff, this resource is a valuable tool for staying informed and adhering to the standards set by 4-H in California.
Community Club Leaders
As a Club Leader, you support the growth and continuation of your 4-H club through:
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Oversight of club activities to ensure that all of the members of your club have access to a variety of learning experiences.
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Being a key contact for your club to receive and share updates and information about opportunities for your members and families.
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Serving as the mentor and advisor to support your Club Officers to gain leadership skills as they fulfill their duties.
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Current 4-H adult volunteer at least 21 years old.
- Experience as a 4-H Adult Volunteer in good standing with the county.
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Knowledge of the University of California 4-H Youth Development Program, its mission, core values and policies.
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Able to guide a team of youth who lead other youth ages 5-19, while providing opportunities to progressively partner with teens and adults to implement the 4-H Program.
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Understands and practices developmental relationship building and belonging skills with youth.
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Understands and practices exemplary youth-adult partnership strategies and techniques.
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Able to complete a minimum of three full program years as an adult volunteer in the California 4-H program.
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Takes responsibility for enforcing 4-H policy, including ensuring that all adult volunteers have completed the full enrollment and screening process.
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Ensures the physical and emotional safety of members, families, and volunteers at meeting and events. Includes ensuring that all adults serving as 4-H Adult Volunteers have been approved for service.
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Ensures youth members are fully enrolled before participating in club and project activities. Ensure project leaders have current rosters of youth enrollment throughout the year.
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Works with your adult community to identify and implement a set of projects that offer a variety of educational experiences to youth members.
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Ensures that project leaders receive training and support during the program year.
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Mentors and coaches youth in club leadership positions to ensure they can fulfill their responsibilities in accordance with the club’s bylaws and/or operating procedures.
This position, depending on the unique aspects of the club (size, new vs. established, etc.), can be a time-consuming role, particularly during the start and end of the program year, and in preparation for fair. It is for this reason that co-leadership and active engagement of club adults is strongly recommended.
Important Links
4-H Club Program Planning Guide
4-H Club Business Meeting Agenda
4-H Parent, Guardian or Adult Participant Code of Conduct
Achievement Program Resource Center
Presentation Day Resource Center
Z Suite Resource Center for Families
Volunteer Training Courses (New & Returning)
Shooting Sports Resource Center
Mendocino County 4-H Enrollment Scholarship
Mendocino County 4-H Enrollment Scholarship (Spanish)
End of Year Order Form- Leaders
End of Year Order Form- Members
Project Leaders
Project Leaders establish an engaging, safe environment in which 4-H’ers build relationships and learn by doing. In this way, you help youth to develop life skills that can be used now, and throughout their lives. Being a Project Leader takes time, and your performance will not always be perfect, but it is okay to make mistakes. This gives the members the example of learning from a mistake and moving forward. Helping young people develop into responsible and caring adults is essential to the future of our country and our world.
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Current 4-H adult volunteer at least 18 years old.
- Project-Specific content knowledge pr willingness to learn and teach others on project educational content.
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Knowledge of the University of California 4-H Youth Development Program, its mission, core values and policies.
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Able to work as a member of a team.
- Understand and practice developmental relationship building and belonging skills with youth.
- Understand and practice exemplary youth-adult partnership strategies and techniques.
Essential Functions of the Project Leader
- Accompany and supervise youth in all program areas in both structured and unstructured activity.
- Ensure the safety of members and volunteers at project activities. This includes completing the full volunteer enrollment process including fingerprinting and background check and completion of required courses before opening any project meetings. Ensure members complete enrollment before participation.
- Mentor youth members to enable them to set and reach goals across the range of UC 4-H Project Leader Role Description 3
possibilities defined by the publication 4-H Steps to Success and as assessed by the Project and Activity Evaluation Checklist.
- Listen and respond to the needs of youth as they relate to health and well being, in addition to specific project goals.
- Plan and manage project meetings using the tools available on the Project Leader Resources page of the California 4-H website. This includes:
- Ensure that two adults are present at all meetings.
- Keep records with regards to attendance, project report forms, health history and authorizations, and incidents.
- Involve junior/teen leaders in meaningful leadership opportunities.
- Plan a sequence of learning experiences so that the project appeals to beginners and more advanced learners.
Full Position Description here
Important Links
UC 4-H Volunteer Educator's Guide
Project Planning Design Kit Flow Chart