Volunteering with 4-H

First, a little bit about 4-H…

4-H is the largest youth development organization in the United States, reaching nearly six million kids. Administered by the USDA and local land-grant universities, it helps youth ages 5 to 19 learn leadership, citizenship, and life skills through hands-on, "learn-by-doing" projects.

The four "H's" stand for the core values members work to develop:

• Head: Managing, thinking, and problem-solving.
• Heart: Relating to others, communicating, and making value-based decisions.
• Hands: Serving, giving back, and building vocational/technical skills.
• Health: Taking care of physical and mental well-being.

While traditionally known for agriculture and raising livestock, 4-H offers a wide variety of interactive projects. Members choose pathways based on their interests, which include:

• Agriculture: gardening, and animal science
• Civic Engagement: community service, and public speaking
• Healthy Living: nutrition, fitness, and mental well-being
• STEM: shooting sports, technology, and engineering

Programs are highly localized and are delivered through the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension System. The 4-H year begins on October 1 and ends on September 30.

Becoming a 4-H volunteer is simple! All that’s needed is for a potential volunteer to submit a volunteer application to get things started and county 4-H staff will guide them through the process of submitting a volunteer enrollment form to the University of Arizona, consenting to a name-based background check, and submitting a volunteer enrollment for the current 4-H year. Volunteering with 4-H allows caring adults to mentor youth through existing 4-H clubs or by starting new clubs. Clubs offer different projects based on volunteers’ interests and skill-sets.

Volunteer Roles
4-H volunteers can take on a variety of roles, including:

• Mentoring youth in clubs and projects based on volunteer interests
• Coordinating and overseeing local community clubs
• Planning and running special events

Benefits of Volunteering
Volunteers help youth explore career paths, develop skills, and gain confidence through experiential learning activities. Volunteering with 4-H provides opportunities to:

• Make a positive impact on youth development
• Share knowledge, skills, and talents
• Participate in community events
• Join a network of over 500,000 volunteers supporting 6 million 4-H members nationwide

Volunteering with 4-H is a rewarding way to support youth, develop leadership skills, and contribute to your community while having fun and sharing your expertise. Whether through an existing 4-H project, or something new a volunteer has a desire to share with a new generation, there is a place for it all in 4-H!

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering with 4-H in Yavapai County, connecting with a local 4-H Club Leader, or exploring the possibilities of what volunteering could mean for you, email yc4h@arizona.edu or call 928.445.6590.

Stacy DeVeau, STEM Program Coordinator Sr., 4-H Youth Development, performs formal and informal STEM Education Outreach in schools, after-school programs and community venues.