4-H Grows Here logo in green with 4-H clover at right on a black background

PYD Resource Library

Lesson plans on how to create a club culture that centers on belonging, acceptance, affirmation, and positive youth-adult partnerships.

Program Icon.

Program Contact

Autumn Britt, 4-H Program Manager
Phone Number509-588-7817 Email Address • autumn.britt@wsu.edu

Tools for Club Volunteers

Washington 4-H Volunteer Resources

  • Volunteer Training and Resources
    The Washington State 4-H Youth Development Program is committed to offering both current and prospective volunteers a direct and convenient way to access essential training materials and other resources. To learn more about what is required to become a volunteer, contact your local Extension Office.
  • Diversity and Inclusion Resources
    These resources from Washington 4-H cover a variety of Diversity and Inclusion Topics.
    These resources from Washington 4-H cover a variety of Diversity and Inclusion Topics.
  • Facilitate the Awesome
    It is our strongly held belief in 4-H that teens should be able to invest their voices and skills in the programs in which they participate. A program that provides more opportunities for all teens to utilize their unique skills and talents will be a more successful and engaging program. These modules give adult advisers realistic knowledge, tools, and practice for enhancing communication and engagement with teen partners.

    The “Facilitate the Awesome” Teen Adviser Module is an 8-hour experiential program focused on advancing adult knowledge and skills related to adolescent development (physical, emotional and neurological), motivation and team-building through strengths-based programming, and risk management though trauma-awareness and inquiry techniques. Key skills developed include facilitating teen leadership through collaboration, empathy and perspective taking, modeling growth mindset, goal-setting and decision-making, as well as visioning a blueprint for inclusive and trauma-informed programs where authentic peer support can be experienced.

  • Experiential Learning Guide
    This field guide is a practical tool for adults working with youth in growing and developing through experiential learning. The guide prompts adults with questions through each stage of the five-step experiential learning model: experience, share, process, generalize and apply.
  • Program Applications for Developmental Stages
    This guide provides information on ages and stages of youth development from age 5-19, with practical applications for a youth program setting.
  • Understanding Youth Behaviors – Club Scenarios
    In this lesson, youth and adult leaders of youth programs learn to intentionally support youth of all abilities by examining potential scenarios that they may experience while working with youth and brainstorming ways to help all youth be successful.
  • Understanding Youth Behaviors – Staff and Volunteer Resources
    In this lesson, 4-H staff and volunteers will examine potential scenarios they may experience while working with youth in 4-H and brainstorm how to help all youth be successful.

Positive Youth Development Activities

  • Belonging
    In this lesson, youth learn what gives people a sense of belonging by reflecting on what their program/club is doing well and what they could improve to help everyone feel they belong.
  • Connections
    In this 4-H club meeting, youth learn about our connection to each other by creating a gear board to explore how we can give and catch kindness to have a positive impact.
  • Four Corners – Belonging and Inclusion
    By hearing each other’s unique perspectives through an energetic “Four Corners” get-to-know-you activity, youth and adult volunteers identify what makes them feel like they belong and are included in their youth program settings.
  • Identity (Beginning)
    In this 4-H club meeting, youth are introduced to the concept of identity by creating an identity wheel.
  • Identity (Advanced)
    In this 4-H club meeting, youth learn about identity through the lens of power and privilege.
  • Identity Etiquette:  Consent is the Game
    In this lesson, participants learn how they can respectfully greet, interact with, speak about and reference people when they are not present.
  • My Multicultural Self
    In this lesson, youth learn about their own identity and the stereotypes we have. Through sharing stories, youth discover what they consider to be the most important aspects of their own identities. They will challenge stereotypes by developing their own statements and reflecting on where stereotypes come from and how to eliminate them.
  • Privilege for Sale
    In this lesson, youth identify privileges they take for granted or do not realize they have. By participating in a simulation where privilege can be bought with money, they will reflect on the experience of having or not having privileges.
  • Social Emotional Wellbeing: A Guide to Support Youth Thriving
    This collection of resources helps youth reflect, connect and thrive while managing the effects of stress and loss. Designed for youth in grades 3-8, the guide includes:
    • Three sets of simple strategies that focus on social emotional wellbeing in everyday programs and practices.
    • Six step-by-step lesson plans for conducting activities in a group (virtual or in-person) or individually and debriefed as a group.
    • Six quick guides with practical tips for volunteers and staff that introduce topics and why they matter.

  • Icebreakers, Team Challenges, and Other Group Games
    This guide contains many ideas for icebreakers, team-building challenges, and other random and fun games you can incorporate into your youth programming.
  • Identifying Strengths Using One-Page Descriptions
    In this lesson, youth and adults think about their strengths, needs and interests by creating one-page descriptions that share what is important to them, what people like and admire about them, how to best support them and what they want to do or learn about.
  • Our Group Strengths
    In this lesson, identify the strengths of your youth group and create a plan for how you will use those strengths to be a place for youth of all abilities.
  • Perspectives
    In this 4-H club meeting, youth learn how our views are framed by our experiences by watching a video about garbage.
  • Step and Connect
    In this lesson, participants form a circle and step forward if statements read by the facilitator are true for them. The purpose of the activity is to create connections, discover commonalities and acknowledge differences among members of a group.
  • Reflection Activities
    This quick guide to reflection provides tips for building healthy reflection into your teaching, as well as reflection activities ideas and sample reflection questions.