Volunteers help make 4-H possible.

In order to volunteer, previous 4-H Youth Development experience is not necessary. The most important qualification is a desire to work with young people, helping them gain life skills and providing them positive experiences. Please consider sharing your time and talents!

Volunteers extend the resources of UW-Extension as they work with staff to deliver educational programs. Volunteering is a privilege.

All adult volunteers 18 and older are required to complete the Wisconsin 4-H Youth Protection program, which includes:

• a background check for arrest and conviction records
• participation in the Volunteers in Preparation Training
• annually signing the UW-Extension Volunteer Behavior Expectations  or (Spanish version here)
• completing the Mandated Reporter Training.

For more information and an application to volunteer, contact the 4-H Youth Development staff member in your County UW-Extension Office.

Ways to Volunteer

Project Volunteer – Share your skills, talents and special interests in a single project area. For example: photography, arts, foods, community service, rocketry and robotics, gardening, rabbits, dairy, etc.

4-H Club Team Volunteer – Provides 4-H club leadership.  Can be an individual, a team, or a group of people that have specific roles that fulfill the 4-H Club Leader responsibilities. Team members can be a youth-adult partnership.

Youth Volunteer – 4-H member who develops leadership skills and teaches other 4-H members. Serve as a youth leader, camp counselor, committee chair, etc.

Short Term Volunteer  – Teach a special interest program, and/or assist a 4-H group with a special project.

• Youth and adults are invited to submit a seminar proposal for teaching at the 2016 Wisconsin 4-H & Youth Conference.

Afterschool / School Enrichment Volunteer – Teach a short-term 4-H curriculum to a class (or classes) of school children.

In addition, 4-H volunteers have the opportunity to provide additional support to the program as:

Adult Advisors  – are 4-H volunteers who have a combination of chaperone and coordination responsibilities for 4-H Youth Development experiences.  This may include Citizenship Washington Focus, Space Camp, National 4-H Congress. Adults interested in these experiences must complete the Adult Advisor Form.

Chaperones  – for 4-H youth development experiences must have completed the Youth Protection Process; be enrolled 4-H volunteer leaders and be over 21 years of age.