Developmental Stages of the 4-H Program
Developmental
Stages of the
Service – Educator sees
Education – Educator involves
Management – Educator is still
Leadership – Educator
Developmental
Stages of the 4-H
Program –
The program is limited to
the number of events and
activities that the educator
can manage.
The program is still very limited.
Volunteers are engaged only in
those projects the educator feels
confident in leading. Program
may be primarily aimed at
animal science, family living or
natural resources but not all
three.
Capacity of the program is greatly
increased because the program
can expand to areas outside the
personal interests of the
educator. Volunteers are
recruited specifically because
they can lead programs that the
educator doesn’t know very well.
Potential impact of the program
is unlimited. Opportunities are
limited only by the number of
people that can be energized
and empowered by the mission
of the organization.
Volunteer expects the
educator to do everything;
may view the planning and
organizing as the
educator’s job.
Volunteer is willing to help but
wants lots of advice and
guidance from the educator.
Would expect the educator to be
in attendance at workshops,
events and activities.
Volunteer wants opportunities to
provide input into decisions,
more willing to plan and organize
events without assistance from
educator.
Volunteer wants the
educator/system to trust their
competence, want to be given
substantial responsibility, want
to be treated as full members of
the organization
Educator
Program
Impact
Developmental
Stages of the
Volunteer(s)
this as his program and
feels like he needs to do it
all.
volunteers in roles that are
closely supervised or taught by
educator.
in charge and focuses on getting
others involved in doing what the
educator feels needs to be done.
facilitates empowerment of
anyone that can contribute to
the success of the program.
Original materials and matrix developed by Jim Rutledge (revised 2006 and 2008)
Basics of creating an environment where the 4-H program is alive and flourishing
 Relationships - Key points: Communication and respect even in disagreement
 Common goals – Key points: 4-H Mission / Involve others in setting the direction and developing the plans
 Bringing people along – Key points: Clear about asking / Matching interests, time, resources / Barriers to people getting involved
 Recognition – Key points: needs to go back to the common goal, recognize contributions to reaching that goal / “related to taking people
seriously, respecting them as persons with certain gifts and ambitions, and treating them as full members of the organization”
Created by Kim Reaman, 4-H Volunteer Development Specialist, University of Wyoming
County 4-H Council President’s Retreat, May 1-2, 2010, Casper WY