An Orientation Program
for 4-H Club
Volunteer Leaders
4-H Mission, Policies
and Implementation
Helping you put knowledge to
work.
The 4-H Youth Development
Program of University of Illinois
Extension helps youth learn skills
for living.
The period of time from
September 1 through August 31.
Any youth who participates in a
program, which is planned,
organized, delivered, and
evaluated by the University of
Illinois Extension.
Any person, regardless of race,
color, religion, gender, national
origin, ancestry, marital status,
familial status, sexual orientation,
or disability may participate in
4-H programs.
This 4-H program is open to
youth who are five, six, or seven
years of age on or before
September 1 of the 4-H year. It is
not intended to duplicate the 8-19
year old experience, nor to create
a mini-4-H concept.
Youth who are eight years of age
and have not reached their
nineteenth birthday on or before
September 1 of the current 4-H
year.
4-H Clubs, Special Interest
Groups, Short-term programs,
and Individuals
4-H members’ behavior is
expected to demonstrate the
character traits of
trustworthiness, respect,
responsibility, fairness, caring,
and citizenship
This document contains plans for
financial activity within the club
during the 4-H year.
This report provides a detailed
accounting of the year’s financial
transactions for a club. It is
submitted to and filed in the
Extension Unit Office.
This club officer has
responsibility for signing checks
along with at least one adult from
the club to whom he or she is not
directly related.
4-H Leader Orientation
Introducing . . . .
University of Illinois
Extension in
Champaign County
Champaign County
Program Committees
• Unit Council
- Extension Board
- Marketing/Resource
- Program (i.e. ag/hort, youth development,
home & family, community economic
development)
- Special Committees (as needed)
Champaign County
Program Committees (c’d.)
• Youth Development
- Expansion & Review (required)
- Project (home ec, livestock, general)
- Event & Activity (Fair, National 4-H Week,
International Night, Cloverbud Fair, etc.)
- Volunteerism (selection, interview & training)
- Federation and/or Ambassadors
- 4-H Foundation
Champaign County
Program Committees (c’d.)
• Agriculture/Horticulture/Natural Resources
• Home & Family
• Community Economic Development
Champaign County
Organizational Chart
Regional Director
Unit Leader
Secretary 3
Secretary 1 or 2
Family Nutrition Program
Volunteers
Unit Educator
Youth Development
Unit Educator
Horticulture
Community Worker
Academic Hourly
Academic Hourly
School Enrichment
Master Gardeners
Volunteers
Types of Staff in
Champaign County
• Administrative
- Associate Dean &
Director, Extension
& Outreach
- Assistant Dean &
Director, 4-H
- Regional Director
- Associate Regional
Director
• Academic Professional
- Unit Leader
- Unit Educator
- Unit Assistant
- Extension Educator
- Extension Specialists
- State 4-H Staff
Types of Staff in
Champaign County (c’d.)
• Civil Service
• Temporary
- Secretarial
- Academic Hourly
- Community Worker
- 900 Hour
- Program Coordinator - Summer
4-H Delivery Modes Utilized in
Champaign County
• Club
- Community
- School
• Special Interest
- School Enrichment
- After School
- Community
4-H Delivery Modes Utilized in
Champaign County (c’d.)
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Short-Term
Camp
Individual Membership
Cloverbud Groups
Types of Volunteers Utilized in
Champaign County
• Club
- Organizational, Project, Activity, Junior
- Mentor Leaders
• Cloverbud Groups
- Organizational, Project
Types of Volunteers Utilized in
Champaign County (c’d.)
• Special Interest
- School Teachers, Agency, After School Staff
• Short Term
- Project Workshop Leaders, Ag Expo
• Administrative Volunteers
- Committees, Superintendents, Judges
4-H Glossary
• Famous for acronyms like IFYE.
• Bad about not explaining them. Please
don’t be embarrassed to ask us to explain.
• As time progresses, you can help us think of
new ones!
Champaign County
4-H Policies
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Unique to our county
Cannot supercede State 4-H Policies
Developed by:
Approved on:
Clubs, Meetings,
Projects, Life Skills,
Experiential Learning
What is a 4-H Club?
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Five or more youth
Elected officers
Planned programs/activities
Six or more meetings
What is 4-H Club Meeting?
What is a 4-H Project?
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Major way 4-H’ers "learn by doing“
A series of experiential learning activities
Planned by member & leader or helper
Involves:
- setting goals
- learning new skills (subject matter and life
skills)
- evaluating progress
• Done in a challenging and fun format
• Specific subject-matter chosen by a 4-H member
What is 4-H Activity?
• Group experiences that reinforce, but may not
address specific projects.
• Examples include:
- Community service
- Club trip
- Group study
- Judging Contest
- Fundraising
Experiential Learning Cycle
What are Life Skills?
• Competency:
- Decision-making
- Communication
• Coping
- Positive self concept, consistent with values
• Contributory
- Leadership
- Community Service
The Job of a Volunteer Leader is to:
• Help youth develop skills
• Teach members how to think, not what to think
• Recognize & encourage members
You Don’t Have to Do the Job Alone
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Adult and Junior Leaders
Parents
Experienced 4-H Members
Community Members
Mentor Leaders
Extension Staff
Volunteer Leadership
Roles in 4-H Clubs
4-H Project Leader
Helps members enrolled in a specific
project gain knowledge, skills and
attitudes for that project.
4-H Activity Leader
Helps members learn through
involvement in one or more 4-H
activities.
4-H Organizational Leader
• Provides leadership to the club
organization, structure and operation.
• Serves as primary contact for the club.
4-H Project Leader Responsibilities
Facilitates learning in the project -• Introducing the project to all members and
parents.
• Helping members set goals and plan.
• Conducting project meetings and workshops.
• Assisting individuals in planning and
completing projects.
4-H Project Leader
Responsibilities (c’d.)
Supports other activities to enhance project learning -• Involving older members as junior leaders.
• Encouraging parents to support projects at home.
• Assisting members with presentations, contests and
exhibits of their projects.
• Helping members complete planning forms and
reporting accomplishments.
• Keeping members informed of other opportunities.
• Recognizing achievement in projects.
4-H Activity Leader Responsibilities
Help members -• Set goals for the activity.
• Explore alternatives and options.
• Develop a plan.
• Report plans and gain support of other members.
• Organize tasks needed to carry out the plan.
• Secure resources (human, materials, funds,
transportation, etc.)
• Identify and assign responsibilities.
4-H Activity Leader
Responsibilities (c’d.)
• Publicize the activity and inform potential
participants.
• Identify and manage risks.
• Recruit other volunteers and plan for supervision.
• Coordinate all aspects of the activity.
• Evaluate the activity.
• Celebrate successful completion of the activity.
• Encourage/facilitate participation in related activities
at unit level and beyond.
4-H Organizational Leader
Responsibilities
Guides the organization of the club by:
• Organizing recruitment and enrollment of members
• Scheduling regular meetings
• Helping club members and families set club goals
• Facilitating program planning
• Assisting with evaluating individual and group
accomplishments
4-H Organizational Leader
Responsibilities (c’d.)
Supports group and individual learning by:
• Guiding individual members in project
selection
• Securing and distributing learning resources
• Conducting group activities and events
• Providing training and guidance for officers,
committees and junior leaders
4-H Organizational Leader
Responsibilities (c’d.)
Coordinates recruitment and work of other volunteers:
• Informing of leadership needs
• Completing screening and enrollment procedures
• Helping volunteers understand and carry out roles
• Monitoring activity, encouraging and guiding other
volunteers
• Helping volunteers evaluate progress
• Recognizing volunteer achievements
4-H Organizational Leader
Responsibilities (c’d.)
Maintains communication with members, unit, region
and state program by:
• Establishing information dissemination processes in
the club
• Maintaining regular contact with Extension staff
• Attending leader training and information meetings
• Providing club enrollments and other information
Junior or Teen Leaders
Older 4-H members who lead other
members.
Filling Leadership Needs
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Identify Club Needs
Describe Club Roles
Recruit and Interview Prospects
Screen and Place Volunteers
Orient and Develop Leaders’ Skills
Provide Support
Evaluate Club Staffing for New Year
Volunteers & 4-H
Partner to Provide
Wholesome and Safe
Programs
Extension Expects Volunteers to:
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Know and Carry Out Mission
Provide Information about Interests
Follow Behavior Guidelines
Maintain Two-way Communication
Participate in Orientation
Work as a Team
Volunteers Expect from Extension:
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Meaningful and Clearly Defined Roles
Orientation, Training Support and Direction
Inclusion in Decision-Making
Teamwork
Performance Feedback
Recognition and Appreciation
Selection Procedures -4-H Volunteers
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Extension Volunteer Application
3 References
Interview
Check of DCFS’ CANTS Database
Check Registered Sex Offenders List
Verify Auto License and Insurance for
Authorized Drivers*
• Check Criminal Convictions**
Guidelines for Youth Interaction
• Avoid being alone with one youth.
• Do not share a sleeping room with a youth.
• Avoid socializing with 4-H youth outside
4-H and family settings.
• Do not use physical discipline.
• Be alert to evidence of potential abuse or
neglect and report it.
• Encourage parent participation in 4-H
activities.
Liability Protection
for
4-H Volunteers
Risk Management
Helps Avoid
Liability
Becoming Familiar
with the Office
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Office Tour
Maps, phone number, address
Staff Introductions
Unit/Office Policies
Additional Facilities
Emergency Contacts
Assessing Needs
and
Training Programs
Interpreting
Volunteer Inventories
• What skills can you share with others?
• What are your most urgent training needs?
• What are the most urgent training needs of the
whole group?
Training/In-Service
Opportunities
• 4-H Volunteer Leader meetings
• Neighboring county’s Volunteer Leader
meetings
• Multi-county/Regional Forums
• State Volunteer Forum
• North Central Volunteer Forum
Other Training Resources
• Mentor Leaders
• Publications/audio-visual
• Illinois 4-H Clover
• Illinois Leader Newsletter
• National Source Book
• Project leader guides
• Helping Youth Help
Youth series
• Leader Handbook
• 4-H Web pages
Volunteer Requirements
• Attend orientation programs
• Abide by Illinois 4-H policies
• Work to provide youth with quality learning
experiences
Expectation: Take Advantage
of Training
• Training to help you develop specific skills
• Training to help you effectively
- use specific materials
- help members use specific project guides
- conduct specific programs
• Information/coordination meetings about
county events, etc.
Making Your Needs Known
• Important to keep Extension staff informed
about training needs.
- Write, phone, e-mail, and FAX
- Contact Kathy Mullins, 333.7672
- Contact your mentor
This 4-H Orientation Lesson Plan
was developed by
The Volunteer Training Subcommittee of
Youth Development Education Team
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Mary Kay Munson, Extension Specialist, 4-H/Youth, Chair
Bill Million, Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development
Deanna Roby, Extension Unit Educator, Youth Development
Melinda States, Extension Educator, Youth Development
Judy Taylor, Extension Educator, Youth Development
September, 2001