New Leaders Tip 2: Starting a New 4-H Club

Program Contact

Amy Alder, 4-H Program Manager
Phone Number509-962-7565 Email Address • amy.alder@wsu.edu

Adapted from Missouri 4-H’s “Letters to New Leaders” series. They are originally posted at these links: Letter 1 (PDF), Letter 2 (PDF), Letter 3 (PDF), Letter 4 (PDF), Letter 5 (PDF), Letter 6 (PDF).

Frequently Asked Questions

Club Size: How large or small can my club be?

Washington 4-H clubs can have as few as 5 members or as many as can be effectively included based on the number of enrolled 4-H volunteers active in the club. Dedicated teen leaders can also help support club membership.

Meeting space may also determine the club size. Can all attendees see and hear the presentation or meeting well? Is there adequate airflow and can the space be kept at a comfortable temperature for the number of people in the room? Is there enough seating and can it be arranged in a way that makes everyone feel like they belong?

Finding Members: How do I recruit youth?

Spreading the word about the fun and exciting activities in your 4-H club is one of the best ways to recruit new members. Word of mouth is the best advertisement – start with your own children, other families in your networks, and asking them to talk to their friends. Contact your local schools and churches about putting information in their newsletters or community announcements. Your county 4-H staff will also have recruitment ideas.

Locations: Where and when do we meet?

The size and needs of the club determine what kinds of locations work for meetings. Some clubs meet at schools, in churches, in community centers, or at libraries. Accessibility should be a consideration for your meeting location as well. Talk to your local 4-H staff for guidance about accessibility or questions about potential club meeting places.

A club should meet a minimum of six times a year, but more often is recommended. Many clubs meet monthly, some meet more often, depending on the needs of the youth involved. School-based 4-H clubs may meet weekly. Consistent, scheduled meeting times are important for everyone involved in the club and help families know when to plan to attend 4-H events. Having a calendar or predictable meetings help keep youth engaged and enthusiastic.

Some clubs alternate club business meetings and less formal project or social sessions. Club meetings should also be youth-led, rather than adult-led.

Other Volunteers: Can I have co-leaders?

Absolutely! It is advisable that multiple certified volunteers divide the duties of club leadership. If you need to recruit more adult members, look to the families of current 4-H members, recent 4-H alumni, senior centers, friends, and local subject-area experts willing to help provide fun, experiential learning activities for your 4-H youth!

Potential volunteers should always talk to county 4-H staff before starting an application.

Club Name: How do we choose our club name?

Your club name can reflect the interests of members, the projects your club covers, geographic location, or other themes important to club members. All members should help choose the name of their club.

Club names should not include language that could be considered biased or discriminatory. It should also not cause potential members to shy away from the club due to a misleading name. Check with county 4-H staff to ensure you don’t duplicate the name of an already-existing club. It can be useful to do this before you have youth vote on their final club name and to ask them to reconsider any that are very close to the names of already-established 4-H clubs in your county.

Enrollment: How do members and volunteers enroll and what fees are associated with enrollment?

Detailed information on enrollment in 4-H is available on the New Members page.

Club Property: How do we get materials for projects, crafts, and activities? Are there curriculum books available to help us get started?

Contact the county 4-H office for more information on places to source materials. Kittitas County has a curriculum library. If the club has a materials wish-list of common items, such as wooden craft sticks, glue, paper, crayons, or other office or craft supplies, families may be willing to donate them. Keep any supply donation asks small and reasonable – families often like helping, so long as doing so doesn’t stretch their means.