New Volunteers
- How do I apply?
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- Complete a Volunteer Application online. (Paper applications can be requested by contacting our office)
- Complete a background check via Sterling Volunteers after your references have been checked.
- Complete the online Volunteer Education modules.
- Attend new volunteer orientation with local WSU 4-H staff (in-person or via Zoom)
- Log your volunteer hours!
- How often will I volunteer?
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Volunteer just a few hours or make a monthly commitment!
4-H volunteers (AKA 4-H Leaders) can provide support for one event, one project, multiple projects, for general club organization, or a county/state-wide initiative. It all depends on what you’re interested in and what time you’d like to share with us! There’s a lot of flexibility in how long you volunteer and how often.Examples
2 hours/year
Jose is a vet technician who volunteers a few hours a year to teach small animal handling techniques to 4-H members at a club meeting and answer kids’ questions about animals, veterinary science, and animal care careers.5+ hours/month for 3 months
Emma is a CWU college student who volunteers to plan, prep, and lead 4-H science+art activities, with the help of 4-H staff, one afternoon a month for a spring quarter internship.6-8 hours/month
Shawna has a 9-year-old who is excited to learn sewing. So she worked with the local 4-H office to start a small 4-H club for her kid and a few new and old friends. Shawna is using 4-H sewing project guidebooks to learn sewing alongside the kids — Learning By Doing! Shawna’s club meets every other week to practice sewing skills and have fun. Club members also sew blankets for a community service project and run a “learn to sew” activity at the county fair.15+ hours/month
Kevin is a local sheep producer, 4-H alumni, and has been a 4-H Leader for 15 years. His kids have already graduated out of 4-H, but he enjoys leading activities for local youth. As a General Club Leader, he organizes the club schedule, makes sure information gets to all the club’s families and volunteers, and mentors the sheep members in his club. He also attends monthly council and committee meetings to stay up-to-date and helps teach workshops at the local 4-H sheep clinic each year. His club meets once a month, the sheep members meet an additional time each month.
- What volunteer roles are available?
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Volunteer Roles
- General Club Leader – Volunteer leader who assumes primary responsibility for a 4-H club/group. Co-General Club Leaders are common (2 people sharing the role).
- Project Leader – Volunteer who leads a specific project within a club/group; llama, robotics, baking, crafts, sewing, dog, swine, horse, cats, and more!
- Activity Leader – Volunteer who gives leadership to an event or activity within a club/group; community service leader, fundraising leader, etc.
- Resource Leader – Volunteer who serves a club/group as a source of expertise, an advisor, a leader of volunteers, or other resource capacity; like a local farmer or engineer who teaches youth about their career or shares a skill clinic with members.
- What can I do?
Did you know there are over 100 different 4-H projects within STEM+Agriculture, Healthy Living, and Civic Engagement, including Livestock – Horse – Robotics – Art – Leadership – Small Animal – Outdoor Education – Food & Nutrition – Science – Community Service – and so much more!
As a 4-H Volunteer, you can…
- Support youth in community service projects
- Lead hikes and teach outdoor skills
- Teach animal care or husbandry
- Organize job shadows for youth
- Teach baking or cooking techniques
- Lead teen trips to state and national events
- And so much more!
The project is the spark, positive youth development is the purpose. So whatever your group of young people and volunteers would like to do we can make it happen in 4-H!
- How do I start a 4-H Club?
4-H Staff are available to support new clubs throughout this process. We can help prioritize program options, recruit members, locate meeting spaces, share program information with members, support enrollment, help run initial meeting activities, and more!
Getting Started
- Meet with local 4-H staff to share ideas and explore options.
- Apply to become a Certified 4-H Volunteer.
- Began recruiting youth members (at least five members from three different families) and at least one more volunteer.
- Organize the club at the first meeting.
Initial Club Meeting
- Welcome all members and families with ice breakers and time to get to know everyone–ice cream social, anyone?
- Share available 4-H projects (those projects you and other volunteers are willing to lead). Ask members to select, or at least begin to think about, projects to be carried by the club.
- Decide on a regular club meeting schedule, which includes the date, time, and place.
- Ask all members and volunteers to enroll on 4HOnline. Members and volunteers are placed on a 4-H mailing list to receive regular 4-H newsletters and other important information.
- Support youth in selecting a name for the club.
- Ask for nominations and elect officers for the club. Depending on the size and type of club, typical officers might include a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and reporter.
- Complete the Annual Club Plan (club goals, projects, community service ideas) and also the 4-H Club By-laws template provided by your 4-H staff. It’s okay if things change, but planning with youth is a great way to support youth leadership and uplift their ideas!
- Have fun!
Current Volunteers
- I need project ideas or activity guides.
The office has several 4-H project books on a variety of subjects, and livestock activity sets that volunteers and 4-H members can check out. Stop in or call/email ahead to see what’s available to borrow.
Check out the 4-H project books and guides available at Shop 4-H (under Curriculum). If your club needs support in previewing or purchasing materials let us know!
Shop 4-H has resources for:
- Animal Science
- Citizenship & Civic Engagement
- Cloverbuds: 5-7 year olds
- Communication & Expressive Arts
- Foods, Nutrition, & Healthy Lifestyles
- Natural Resources & Environmental Education
- Personal Growth & Career Development
- Plants, Gardening & Agriculture
- STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math
- And more!
Want to chat about ideas for your members? Give us a call, email, or pop in — we love brainstorming fun hands-on activity ideas!
- I need help with 4HOnline enrollments.
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Enrollment Help Guides
Family Enrollment Help Guide(Updated 09.27.2021)
Glossary of Terms (Updated 09.27.2021)
Enrollment Process Video (Updated 09.20.2022)Contact Andrea Morse, WSU Kittitas County Extension Program Assistant, for more help!
Monday-Friday, 8 AM-Noon & 1-5 PM
(509) 962-7507 / amorse@wsu.edu
901 E 7th Avenue, Suite 2, Ellensburg, WA 98926, (509) 962-7507
