Becoming a 4-H Volunteer

Volunteers Are the Heart of 4-H

Without the effort, expertise and passion of adult volunteers, 4‑H could not possibly provide positive youth development programming to millions of youth each year!

4‑H adult volunteers directly influence the youth they work with by being their mentor, teacher, role model, advocate, and cheerleader. Even if you do not have background with 4‑H, you can find a place in the 4‑H community to inspire and learn from youth.

The 4‑H year runs from September 1st to August 31st of the following calendar year. During that time, 4‑H adult volunteers can commit to long-term, or brief, positions.

We appreciate the commitment and efforts of those willing to accept this responsibility. In turn, we provide training and materials to assist you in this process.

Burlington County 4-H Volunteer Opportunities

Long Term

This type of volunteer has the dedication to support club members throughout the 4-H year (September – July). They serve as mentors for youth-lead clubs and assist with finding opportunities to explore a subject area. Leaders may teach the subject area, assist with finding a guest speaker to teach, and organize trips.

Short Term

This type of volunteer has the dedication to support club members through a Short Term Exploratory Program (S.T.E.P.), that takes place for a minimum of 12 hours over the course of a few weeks or a few months. They serve as mentors for youth-lead clubs and assist with finding opportunities to explore a subject area. Leaders may teach the subject area, assist with finding a guest speaker to teach, and organize trips.

Resource Person

This type of volunteer serves occasionally throughout the year as a guest speaker, a judge for a competition, a resource in a specific subject area, an event helper, etc.

Parent Helpers

Most 4‑H events try to include a youth member’s whole family and “many hands can make light work”! Parents, or adult relatives, are particularly helpful at club meetings and events to help with organization, set up, clean up, snack scheduling, and anything else they find useful.

How to Become a 4-H Volunteer

1. Meet with the staff/faculty in your county to learn more about the programming offered. Tell them about your interest in becoming a 4-H volunteer.
2. Apply
3. Consent for Background check and complete Youth Protection of Minors Training
4. Attend New Leader Orientation

More Resources

• Download Becoming a Volunteer (PDF) for a more detailed version of the process.
• How to start a 4-H Club Form (PDF)