Four Steps to Starting a New 4-H Club

If you are interested in starting a new 4-H Club, follow these steps. At any time in the process you can contact Mike Seiber for guidance.

Step 1 Image

Get Started

  • You need:
    • Five (5) or more youth, aged 5-18 years old as of October 1st, for the current program year (Oct 1-Sept 30)
    • At least one interested adult to help run the club
    • Some ideas for having fun and learning skills that the youth will use throughout life
  • Discuss your needs. Talk the idea over with the youth. Talk about something simple that they would like to learn about. Some ideas could be: caring for the family pet, starting a leaf collection, cooking snacks, or making a decoration.
Step 2 Image

Get Oriented

  • Contact the 4-H Office at (253) 798-3223 to schedule a 4-H Club Leader Orientation
  • We will help you:
    • Advertise for members using our “open clubs” link
    • Plan an orientation session for prospective 4-H’ers and parents
    • Figure out what volunteers and leaders do
    • Set goals for your first year and decide how to reach them
    • Celebrate your success as your eager 4-H’ers have fun learning
Step 3 Image

Get Help

  • Ask adults and older teens to help
  • Personally ask people to take active roles
  • Recruit parents, other adults, and older teens in the community as:
    • Project leaders
    • Activity leaders
    • Resource leaders
Step 4 Image

Get Busy

  • Complete enrollment forms
  • Work with your new group to decide meeting dates and times
  • Plan a calendar for your first year’s program
  • Decide what you want to accomplish
  • Discuss ground rules
  • Encourage members to select a club name
  • Set up project groups
  • Elect officers