4-H Community Club Resources

Youth development research documents that multi-year involvement in an on-going youth organization has the greatest positive impact on the lives of young people. The 4-H club provides youth essential elements of positive youth development of belonging, mastery, independence and mastery. Through participation in the 4-H club, youth build critical on-going relationship with adults, opportunities for leadership and citizenship, life skill development and increase their connection to peers and the community. It is vital that the 4-H club provide a “youth-centered” approach.

4-H Youth Development programs are delivered primarily through volunteers. Providing the essential orientation, training, support and recognition for 4-H volunteers is critical to the quality of the 4-H experience for youth.  To help insure that Wisconsin 4-H volunteers possess the needed tools and resources, the Strengthening 4-H Clubs Work Team has researched and reviewed best practice programs. Thank you for your support as we work to strengthen the 4-H club program for all 4-H members.

This web site includes variety of resources available to help start, strengthen and revitalize 4-H Community Clubs. Additional tools and resources are also available at the 4-H Community Club Central web page.

Quick Links: Annual Volunteer Leader Training Web Site; Member Retention Web Site

4-H Club Charter and Annual Charter Renewals

All 4-H clubs must be chartered. Each year 4-H clubs must renew this charter. These two packets are to be used by volunteer organizational leaders and submitted to the UW-Extension office and 4-H Youth Development Staff. The annual charter renewal is due December 1. The charter process is encouraged for the 2008-2009 4-H enrollment year and will be required for 2009-2010 4-H enrollment year.

• Wisconsin 4-H Annual Charter Application: New 4-H Clubs
• Wisconsin 4-H Annual Charter Renewal: Existing 4-H Clubs

The Dissolution or Non-Renewal of Wisconsin 4-H Charters Form is a checklist provides staff a resource to follow as 4-H clubs and groups dissolve or a non-renewal of a charter is needed. It is located on the 4-H Name and Emblem website in the Employees Box. You do need to be logged in to access this form.

4-H Group or Committee Charter and Annual Charter Renewals

All 4-H groups and committees that handle finances and have a checkbook or financial account must be chartered. Each year 4-H groups or committees must renew this charter. These two packets are to be used by volunteer group or committee leaders and submitted to the UW-Extension office and 4-H Youth Development Staff. The annual charter renewal is due December 1. The charter process is encouraged for the 2008-2009 4-H enrollment year and will be required for 2009-2010 4-H enrollment year.

• Wisconsin 4-H Annual Charter Application: New 4-H Groups & Committees
• Wisconsin 4-H Annual Charter Renewal: Existing 4-H Groups & Committees

4-H Charters are located in the employee box at: 4-H Charters. A letter to affirm annual charter renewal and a provisional renewal are posted in the For Employees Box.

Wisconsin 4-H Charters: Frequently Asked Questions (62.21 KB, 4 pages) This document can provide answers to the more frequently asked questions regarding Wisconsin 4-H Charters.

Annual Volunteer Leader Training

• Annual 4-H Volunteer Leader Training Web Site This web site includes the lesson plans and all teaching materials. for the annual 4-H volunteer leader trainings. The second training lesson plan and all teaching materials will be available September 1, 2009.
• Overview Annual Leader Training Process and Plan (2 pages, 59 KB) This document outlines the process, timeline and schedule for the annual 4-H leader required leader training. The annual required volunteer leader training is encouraged for the 2008-2009 4-H enrollment year and required for 2009-2010 4-H enrollment year.

Member Retention Survey and Resources

Understanding why 4-H members leave 4-H is critical to addressing the issue of member retention. This web page includes the process for staff to collect this data from non-returning members, how the information will be gathered and reported and to the most current tools in place to increase member retention. The results of the survey will be used to develop additional tools and strategies to support all staff and county 4-H programs. Retention surveys should be sent out as soon as current enrollments are entered into the 4-HPlus enrollment system and no later than March 31 each year. Data will be collected an analyzed each May.

• Member Retention Survey and Resources

County 4-H Program Structures

In many counties, the county 4-H Leader's organization supports the 4-H program through conducting educational programs, raising supplemental funds, and representing 4-H in the community.

• County 4-H Leader Organizations and the County 4-H Youth Development Professional (4 pages, 54 KB) - Paper describes the roles of the county 4-H leader organization and the 4-H Youth Development staff member.
• County 4-H Program Structures (2 pages, 45 KB) - While the structure of a county 4-H program varies from county to county, there are consistent foundations in all county programs.
• Sample County 4-H Program Flowchart (1 page, 24 KB) - 4-H groups and associations are accountable to Cooperative Extension for their activities and finances.

Teaching Tools

• Getting to Know 4-H Community Club Central Located on the 4-H Community Club Central Home Page, this Power Point can be used to assist volunteers on how to navigate 4-H Community Club Central web site and to access the multitudes of valuable resources it holds to strengthen the local 4-H club.

Additional Resources

• 4-H 101 The Basics of 4-H Clubs - Training tools and presentations slides to assist in starting and strengthening 4-H Clubs. These are the revised materials.
• 4hvolunteersusa.org - A national web site for 4-H volunteers. A variety of tools, resources and opportunities are provided. A link to curriculum and resources in Spanish is provided.