Volunteer Leaders

Welcome to Tuolumne County 4-H. We hope you'll become a 4-H Volunteer Leader! Volunteers like you make the 4-H program a success. As a 4-H volunteer you can help youth develop into responsible, self-directed, productive citizens of the world. Our program focuses on citizenship, leadership, and life skills development using a "learn-by-doing" educational model.

Adults age 18 and over may serve as Volunteer 4-H Leaders. No one may be a leader and member at the same time. In Tuolumne County, regardless of age, a high school student must enroll as a member not a leader. Volunteer Leaders may be club leaders, club or county-wide project leaders, assistant club or project leaders, lead or assist with events or special activities, or provide transportation. Per state policy, chaperones must be 21 years of age or older.

Prospective Volunteer Leaders must

· complete the Adult leader application 2010-11

· attend an orientation session at the UCCE Office

· pay the enrollment fee which covers the required insurance, and

· complete the live scan fingerprint screening.

Returning Volunteer Leaders may pick up and return their enrollment form packet at their club meeting. Volunteer leaders are appointed by the County Director of the local UCCE office. Forms and fee must be received by the 4-H Office and the volunteer leader approved before any meetings may be conducted or insurance coverage is effective.

The leader orientation session includes the history and purpose of 4-H, experiential learning, program delivery, 4-H policies, safety considerations, age and grade characteristics, projects, events and activities, curriculum, and much more. Please contact the 4-H Office for an appointment for leader orientation.

The leader enrollment fee for 2010-2011 is $6 per person, payable to UC Regents.

To help answer questions concerning your new Volunteer Leader role you might like to read through the Project Leaders' Digest.

Four training modules for the Project Leader Digest are located at http://www.ca4h.org/Resources/Volunteers/ProjectLeaders/

Youth with Special Needs - Leaders Handbook (2004)

Disabled youth often have special needs. This handbook provides the necessary tools and information to accommodate those needs. 4-H volunteers and leaders should become familiar with this resource when working with youth with disabilities.

Primary Member Leader's Guide (2000)
Why are primary 4-H members so important to the 4-H Youth Development Program, and what special activities should be provided for them? The Leader's Guide answers these questions and more; it provides information on the 4-H Primary Member Program and how it should be used to encourage a child's educational development.