Use the 4-H website. Visit the official 4-H website (4-h. org) and click on the link at the top of the page that says “Find a Club. " On the next page, select your state and county to get your local club’s office as well as the main state office. [1] X Research source Talk to counselors or administrators at your local school, who will probably be aware of local youth programs. Use local phone books, such as the yellow pages.
Usually, local clubs’ contact info is located on the state or county 4-H branch website. Depending on the club, you may need to call, email, or even show up in person to start the application process.
Note also that precise eligibility requirements can vary from state to state and even club to club. For instance, in Alaska, admission to 4-H requires simply filling out a single-page form and contacting your district agent. [2] X Research source However, in California, families must register an online profile with the state 4-H office to enroll their children in 4-H programs. If your child is ages 5-7(or in some cases 8), they will be considered a “cloverbud” in most instances. Be aware that while they will likely be able to join most clubs, especially ones that do various crafts, they may not be able to do certain activities involving animals or power tools because they aren’t the minimum age.
Once you’re done with the application process, you can start going to 4-H meetings and events! Anyone can be involved in this exciting program! The popular myth that 4-H is only for rural kids is not true — 4-H has clubs in and around urban areas (like, for instance, Los Angeles). [4] X Research source Youth of all ages can be members in projects ranging from creative writing to community service, from aerospace projects to raising a goat. The list of projects is endless!
Science projects (robotics, aerospace, engineering, environmental science, and more) Civics projects (tours, field trips, leadership summits, and more)[5] X Research source Art projects (photography, theater, reading/writing, and more) Community service projects (environmental stewardship, community outreach, activism, and more)
4-H members’ relationship with the 4-H values is perhaps best summed up in the official 4-H pledge: “I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world. “[6] X Research source
Studies have shown that, on average, 4-H members go on to be better-than-average adults. Young people who joined 4-H have been found to be more politically active, more likely to participate in community service, more likely to excel in academics, and less likely to use alcohol, tobacco, or drugs than young people who don’t join 4-H.
As with joining 4-H as a youth, your first step to volunteering as an adult is to find and contact a local branch you’d like to participate with. If you’ve previously been an active 4-H member, you can probably simply talk to the current branch leadership, who will already know you. On the other hand, if you’re joining for the first time, it’s probably best to contact the state or county branch offices.
For example, to become an adult volunteer in the state of California must first complete an application form along with medical and liability release forms online. Then, the club leader for the club the applicant is applying to must review and confirm the application. Finally, the county office must review the application and either approve or deny the volunteer’s application. [7] X Research source
For example, in California, volunteer applicants much watch an orientation video (available online), read a volunteer training guide, and attend approximately two hours of in-person group sessions. [8] X Research source
4-H volunteers are expected to act as role models for the youth under their supervision, so regardless of your exact role, you’ll be required to act in accordance with 4-H values to set an example for those around you. Note that, in some areas, being bilingual can open up many opportunities for you as a volunteer. In California, for instance, 4-H specifically prizes volunteers who can speak Spanish because this skill allows them to be more effective leaders for Spanish-speaking youth, to participate in Hispanic community programs, and to act as translators for other staff.
