Volunteer for 4-H Youth Development

Help young people reach their full potential

Volunteers are the heart of Colorado 4-H, with more than 11,000 adults helping us reach over 110,000 youth each year. As a 4-H volunteer, you serve as a mentor and role model while supporting positive youth development and building life skills that prepare young people for adulthood. There are many ways to volunteer with Colorado 4-H, and we are eager to help you find a volunteer role that matches your skills, interests, and availability. We also provide resources and training to help you succeed in this important role. 

A group of children and a 4-H instructor work together on a hands-on STEM project at a table covered in craft supplies, building a model structure.

Steps to becoming a volunteer

Since our volunteers work so closely with our young learners, we have policies and screening processes in place that all volunteers must follow. These policies help protect the young people who participate in our programs and ensure a positive learning environment that allows them to grow and thrive. 

Here are the steps to becoming a new volunteer: 

  1. Reach out to your county CSU Extension office to express your interest and see what open volunteer roles might be a good fit for you. 
  2. Create an account on 4-H Online and fill out a short volunteer application. 
  3. Submit information for a background check.
  4. Complete an online orientation course (approximately 1 hour), designed to familiarize you with Colorado 4-H Youth Development. 
  5. Get started!

Each year, returning volunteers: 

  1. Affirm their commitment to our policies by signing the 4‑H Code of Conduct and Annual Volunteer Appointment Agreement (required). 
  2. Engage in additional volunteer training opportunities (optional). 

Have questions? Ready to jump in? Please reach out to your county office to express your interest. 

Contact Your County to Get Started

As a 4-H volunteer you will…

  • Discover new friends and experiences while making a difference.
  • Be part of the organization that has been making the best better for more than 100 years.
  • Share your interests and skills with 4-H youth in a learning-by-doing environment.
  • Have fun with youth and learn with them.

Volunteer resources

Starting a new 4-H club

Starting a New 4-H Club-Chapter 1: Welcome – Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/825967851/901d220d19?share=copy&turnstile=0.c2iuShCVhTvKoVnG44qqROCYbMixOWZRSs7ypzuZwm3batYItKSky_9aa6M_zQfqXT0FXM9SClXO6t92m6DyxCMYCh-ZpyGpZc3-Hvd5gWAPdKbV0nMWArVmf6FkixpYpI0Vqtk5N5v9AyduHyymWZWaNxhIwZzRRhMFQmx1ZsdAn6cNmKdk3FUtKu_4gPPDKahxa1AF3gfHfVb8_SFfHLWpuk867bPyH6NiTZ4nS5JNIvV2UyccelKidWrPI5eZaZIL7Xjo-mbrGqSJ0FIYTuYm0M8nSa6V92-a86dg7JS4bnKz3P_aEj5dTqDt_mb7LR1BZdUoTFxO4jAHRGe3_z8wiCO9R5Imzxh7eyppti9olIGLVxrVyairk_RsV5oWvRJv_9NZwwyqAGm9KD9ivjjw2ISIRDjRzO9N09BUElul6I_A8oOzwwMtkYiaE4nD1VWHHKLWBcs74eIs_vwiH5X5K37BhpxTJRjiXzWI16i3DCmGLmhukk26SEgzp7s2VUnVtaK-_vlj3BSbyAJGFd4V9rLsyTtZl3EAzzLj7NNjcoIqyCWhnhtbIWzPuJQYXuMVRyzeioYlAajRVzcuY3An4V4rIwNGPV-fP-xpDhkc38MdFLhdjkGx8vTMTnsyQun5z6RiraCCR68KGzR7c4YX41se0WoUiSG-4XthZcf7rCWEn6OZ8-tPKhMJWkiI5TPgk7Ll7azclhliVLfb0TYJOPxNrwvBSR87a_a3Lxnz76zmVukn86tYKMs93ywss5ZAapVuiUQJ3P2bXMBm_vhAu3shYBb9CONpfm-zmHKAMDXk7awrNJW7NUWTt4HpCjOZgyQZtGErUIViz-8gTWTcUjWxa7N8Z9jl8wveUVfvs0IfV-AO5VygYCZCEsEX8v1n6_iq2pF6TOHObwiqbg.m_Zthu3KuTTYbOj5QHPKlA.a472060101f4cbde0e99d19a70b83374d957970651fe9bab514254c8bcc266ce

Video 1: Welcome

Starting a New 4-H Club-Chapter 2:Becoming a 4-H Volunteer – Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/825969338/2c76cdbe88?share=copy

Video 2: Becoming a 4-H volunteer

Starting a New 4-H Club-Chapter 3 Using 4HOnline – Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/825969879/f64da088c7?share=copy

Video 3: Using 4-H Online

Starting a New 4-H Club-Chapter 4: Chartering – Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/825970543/f9c8141536?share=copy

Video 4: Chartering

Starting a New 4-H Club-Chapter 5: Having Successful Meetings – Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/825971104/8318eb162c?share=copy

Video 5: Successful Meetings

Starting a New 4-H Club-Chapter 6: 4-H Project Completion – Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/825971986/c12abf8740?share=copy

Video 6: Project Completion

4-H has helped me become a better leader for other settings such as work and other non-profit groups I am involved in.”

4-H Volunteer

Skills that I have gained from volunteering with 4-H has also helped me become a better community member.  It has truly helped me with my communication skills”

4-H Volunteer

4-H has broadened my vision of how I look at people, youth, volunteering, giving back to the community and learning new skills.”

4-H Volunteer