4-H Community Clubs - 4-H Club Leaders

Volunteer Resources that will assist Adult and Youth Leaders in 4-H Club Leadership Roles

Lessons To Be Used In 4-H Club Leader Training

• This series of lesson plans is intended to increase the skills of 4-H club youth and adult leaders. Each lesson plan can be used in its totality or divided, depending on the local 4-H club need. Each plan features hands-on activities, takes 20-30 minutes and is designed to be taught by 4-H Youth Development staff or mid-manager volunteer leaders.

  • Club Fund Raising (7 pages, 125 KB) An activity plan to help 4-H adult and youth club leaders recognize and identify the goals of and motivators for fundraising and the importance of letting the youth select and carry out all aspects of the fundraiser.
  • Club Self-Assessments (6 pages, 118 KB) An activity plan to help 4-H adult and youth club leaders identify why it is important to self-evaluate their 4-H club and how it benefits all members, parents and leaders.
  • Creating a Club Leadership Team (7 pages, 102 KB) An activity plan to help 4-H adult and youth club leaders consider traits and abilities most needed for different club leadership roles, understand the value of a club leadership team and become aware of how club leadership teams can be structured.
  • Forming Club Committees (5 pages, 131 KB) An activity plan to help 4-H adult and youth club leaders recognize the importance of forming club committees and identify different types of committees.
  • Increasing Adult Involvement (7 pages, 943 KB) An activity plan to help club leaders identify the motivating and inhibiting factors of adult participation in their 4-H clubs. Learn strategies for increasing adult involvement and a sense of belonging for the youth in the club.
  • It's All About Education! (5 pages, 420 KB) An activity plan to teach leaders about the educational foundation of 4-H, including the concepts of experiential education and life skills. Share ideas about how to explain the educational focus of 4-H to the public, parents, other leaders, and 4-H members. Share ideas about reflection and debriefing activities that can be used in 4-H clubs.
  • Keeping Older Members (5 pages, 133 KB) An activity plan to help 4-H adult and youth club leaders discover why older 4-H members stay with the club and why some leave. This can assist clubs in reviewing how they are functioning to make sure they are meeting all members’ needs.
  • Keeping Order and Positive Discipline (6 pages, 114 KB) An activity plan to help 4-H adult and youth club leaders experience the messages others may be saying by their behavior and develop strategies that lead to positive and orderly 4-H club meetings.
  • Keeping Youth in 4-H: Why Do Some Leave? (6 pages, 94 KB) An activity plan to help 4-H adult and youth club leaders learn about the research regarding member retention in 4-H. Satisfaction in the 4-H club experience is an important component of retaining members.
  • Managing Conflict (4 pages, 114 KB) An activity plan to help 4-H adult and youth club leaders prevent potential conflicts and identify strategies to manage a conflict situation in a club.
  • Planning Your Club's Year (8 pages, 328 KB) An activity plan to help 4-H clubs plan fun and effective club meetings that have a balance of recreation, education and business.
  • Pledging a Hand: Mentoring for Members, Families (9 pages, 158 KB) An activity plan to help in establishing member-to-member or family-to-family mentoring teams and experiences that build a welcoming, supportive environment in 4-H clubs for new 4-H members and families.
  • Risky Business: Risk Management Essentials (7 pages, 118 KB) An activity plan to help 4-H youth and adult leaders learn strategies for identifying and managing risks when planning or participating in programs and events.
  • Supporting 4-H Club Committees (5 pages, 122 KB) An activity plan to help 4-H adult and youth club leaders see how they can serve as committee coaches, assist committees in reaching their goals and provide a quality leadership experience for 4-H club members.
  • Supporting New Members & Their Families (6 pages, 144 KB) An activity plan to help 4-H adult and youth club leaders identify the feelings and needs of new members and their families and consider some actions to welcome and orient new members.
  • Supporting the Club Treasurer (6 pages, 130 KB) An activity plan to help 4-H adult and youth club leaders identify reasons for youth club treasurers to be given the leadership for handling the club's financial responsibilities. Providing a mentor for a treasurer can support the learning and leadership development.
  • Time Management (7 pages, 116 KB) An activity plan to help 4-H adult and youth club leaders gain skills in time management that can assist them and their 4-H club members. Tools and strategies are shared to help clubs make the best better.
  • Working with Your Club's Officer Team (6 pages, 204 KB) An activity plan to help 4-H adult and youth club leaders learn about effective club officer teams, new ideas for working with club officer teams, and resources available to make their leadership roles effective.

Additional Resources

• New Jersey 4-H Leader Training Series - The New Jersey 4-H Leader Training Series is a wonderful resource for 4-H volunteers. It contains a wealth of information from how to start a club to planning field trips to how to work with youth. Select a topic for more information. Training series also available in Spanish.
• Minnesota 4-H Club Management Guide - The Minnesota 4-H Club Management Guide provides a variety of resources for strengthening the local 4-H club.
• Cooperative Extension Media Collection - The collection includes a variety of videos, skill-a-thons, and other educational materials ready to support local training programs for club members, leaders and volunteers.

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