To start the volunteer application process arrange a meeting with the 4-H Extension Educator, Jenny Steward, by contacting her at 651-277-0150 or by email at stew0780@umn.edu.
Ways to volunteer
- One-time volunteering, such as helping out at a 4-H event
- Leading the youngest 4-H'ers -- Cloverbuds in grades K-2
- Chaperoning a trip
- Teaching a topic you know a lot about - once or regularly
- Leading a 4-H club
Who can volunteer with 4-H?
- Anyone age 19+ who cares about young people. You don't need to be a parent or an expert. For some volunteer roles, you will need to complete a background check and have some basic training.
Benefits of volunteering
- Volunteering with 4-H benefits the young people, the community and you -- the volunteer.
- Pass your knowledge with the next generation
- Build your own skills as you help young people build theirs
- You will receive regular training and support
- Grow your network in your community and the University of Minnesota
- Feel pride in making a big impact in the lives of young people and adults in your community
- Make a difference!
Volunteer Opportunities
Project groups
Help lead and coordinate positive youth development experiences around a specific 4-H project. In many projects we have youth interest but need to expand programming to provide learning opportunities:
If you have a new project area of interest you would like to volunteer towards contact 4-H staff.
Specific opportunities in existing projects include:
- Shooting Sports & Wildlife Instructors
- Mentor youth and provide on the line instruction/oversight during Shooting Sports practices
- Commitment of 1 year (Spring-Summer)
- Photography Project Leader
- Organize learning opportunities for youth in the photography project
- Commitment of 1 year (6 meetings)
- Engineering Design Challenge – Coaches
- Help support 4-H members through our Engineering design challenge (grades 3+). Training will be given and no prior experience with engineering is needed.
- Commitment of 1 season (typically a 2-3 month cycle)
- Robotics – Coaches
- Help support 4-H members through our Robotics programs (all ages). Training will be given and no prior experience with programming is needed.
- Commitment of 1 season (typically a 3-4 month cycle)
County Programs
Volunteer to assist in a variety of county programs we have currently available serving as:
- Youth First Afterschool
- Design and lead learning experiences for community youth through our partnership with Youth First and Lakes Center for Youth & Families
- Curriculum and resources already provided
- Time commitment and location varies
- Discover Clubs
- Design and lead learning experiences for community youth through our partnership with the East Central Regional Library system
- Curriculum and resources already provided
- Time commitment and location varies
- Workshop Day Instructor
- Facilitate learning around a specific project at either our Fall or Winter Project Days
- Commitment of 1 morning/afternoon
- Clothing/Sewing Workshops and Camps Volunteer
- Assist our Committee in offering clothing and sewing workshops to 4-H members
- Commitment is seasonal and varies
- Chaperone
- Provide overnight supervision of 4-H members at BLU, YELLO, Summer Camp, State Fair and other overnight programs
- Commitment varies
- County Fair
- There are a variety of ways you can volunteer at the County Fair! Contact us directly to learn how you can assist at this annual celebration!
Community Club Volunteers
For many of our 4-H members local 4-H Community Clubs provides a safe, enriching experience to learn and gain confidence. There are a variety of ways you can volunteer for your 4-H club, and in some cases we may be able to start a whole new club! Consider serving your club as:
- Demonstration Coordinator
- Assist and coordinate 4-H members in giving demonstrations around a variety of projects
- Cloverbud Volunteer
- Plan and coordinate Cloverbud learning opportunities for the club
- Snack Coordinator
- Coordinate healthy snack options for regular meetings
- Activity Volunteer
- Plan and coordinate activities for 4-H members to experience in and outside of 4-H club meetings
- Fundraising Volunteer
- Assist the club by coordinating fundraising opportunities
Committee members
Join into a 4-H committee to help provide guidance, direction and oversight to specific 4-H programs. Current committees that are open to members include:
- Auction Committee
- Cafeteria Committee
- Clothing Committee
- Dog PDC
- General Livestock PDC
- Horse PDC
- Rabbit PDC
- Shooting Sports & Wildlife PDC
- STEM Committee
- Other new committees (suggest to 4-H staff)
Site based clubs
Volunteer with us by helping build new partnerships and experiences at program sites across the county such as after-school sites or summer library programs.