Leaders

4-H Leaders, the best volunteers in the world!

Volunteers, parents and other adults are a valued and essential part of the San Diego County 4-H Youth Development Program (4-H YDP), and have a profound impact on the life trajectory of 4-H members. Serving as an adult volunteer is a privilege and at the invitation of the University of California and San Diego County 4-H. Volunteer participation is supervised by the county 4-H YDP staff and county director.

It is the responsibility of the 4-H YDP to identify, screen, select, train and support 4-H adult volunteers so they can successfully carry out their duties. Adult volunteer appointments are made annually, after reviewing program needs, as well as quality of service and past performance of the volunteer. The policies set forth in this chapter are designed to assure that the 4-H YDP engages caring, competent, and effective volunteers and provides a satisfying and rewarding experience for the adult volunteer that is beneficial to California 4-H members.

People volunteer with 4-H for many reasons. One obvious benefit is to help guide and mentor our country’s future citizens and leaders. Volunteers also develop new leadership skills, meet new friends, and have great adventures.

Adult volunteers leaders play an important role in 4-H youth education programs. They coordinate local community clubs and help to plan and conduct local, regional, state, and national 4-H events.

4-H volunteers help 4-Hers to:

• Learn by doing
• Develop leadership and life skills
• Make new friends
• Give back to the community
• Build connections with others
• Prepare, do, and share.

Types of Volunteers in the 4-H Youth Development Program

4-H volunteer leaders are both youth and adults. Whether working year-round or for a short period of time, there are many ways to get involved with a group of youth.

• A 4-H club team, general or Community Club leader provides overall leadership to the club, oversees the group structure and operation, while serving as the club's contact with County Staff and the 4-H County Council. They coordinate members, parents and other leaders. 4-H club leaders act as individuals, a team or a group of people, each of whom fill specific roles and responsibilities. The team can also be a youth-adult partnership.
• A project leader teaches members in a specific project area, such as rabbits, computers or fashion review.
• An activity leader helps members plan and conduct group activities such as community service, recreation, fundraising or drama.
• A resource leader serves as a resource to leaders or members in a specific project or activity area.
• A teen, junior or youth leader is an older 4-H member who develops leadership skills by teaching other 4-H members. Teen leaders gain experience teaching, working with others and taking on responsibilities under the guidance of an adult volunteer.
• An Afterschool or school enrichment volunteer teaches 4-H curriculum, such as gardening, science or arts and crafts, to an Afterschool group or school class(es).
• A short-term volunteer teaches a special interest program, such as babysitting, first aid or flower arranging, and/or assists a 4-H group with a special project.
• A chaperone leads a group of youth at 4-H Camp, or state and national leadership conferences or contests.
• 4-H County Council is a leader organization that supports their county 4-H program through one or more of the following ways:
  • provide opportunity for volunteers to receive feedback on questions, problems, etc.
  • conduct programs and activities for youth
  • offer in-service training on youth development
  • raise funds and manage a budget to support 4-H youth development work
  • coordinate county-level recognition
  • represent 4-H youth development to the community
  • provide opportunities for youth and volunteers
  • help decide program direction and policy
  • increase awareness about 4-H opportunities on local, county, area, state and national levels