How Can You Help Teens Volunteer?
If we are to successfully keep teens in 4-H, we must invite them to be part of the coaching staff. Let us think of 4-H teen volunteers as our captains and co-captains. Great coaches depend on captains to serve as peer role models on and off the playing field. 4-H teens are leading their peers as teen/junior leaders in clubs, as youth representatives on committees and in key leadership roles as Camp Counselors, CARTEENS Facilitators and Junior Fair Board members.
Help a teen join nearly 5,000 Ohio 4-H youth, ages 13 through 19, become a teen volunteer with your 4-H club or county program. Youth volunteer experiences teach teens these skills and more:
Circle around your 4-H captains! Encourage them to lead at the club, county and state.
- Decision Making
- Leadership Capacity
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Creativity
- Interpersonal
Encourage a teen in your club to apply for one of the following youth volunteer positions. Check with your County Extension Educator on availability of teen volunteer opportunities and specific requirements (age, years in school, etc) for your county as well as state teen volunteer opportunities.
Ambassador and Awareness Teams: High School students may apply to become a County or State 4-H Ambassador or serve on awareness teams. These teens promote 4-H through presentations to school classrooms, assemblies and parent groups, civic organizations and community stakeholders. Teens assist with county 4-H promotional programs including festivals, mall shows, featured news stories, public service announcements and more.
Camp Counselor and/or CIT’s (Counselors-In-Training): Youth, 14 through 19 years of age, serve as part of the camp staffing team to assist in planning, coordinating and conducting camp experiences. After 24 hours of annual training, counselors supervise campers, teach fun hands-on activities, and help campers make friends.
CARTEEN Facilitator: Youth, with a driver’s permit or license, teach teen traffic offenders sentenced to CARTEENS by the Juvenile Court. Facilitators lead group discussions, role-play traffic situations, conduct interactive traffic related games and engage in informal conversation with a State Highway Patrol Officer.
Committee Member: 4-H members, 14 years and older, serve as youth representatives on 4-H committees. These teens are actively involved in planning, conducting and evaluating 4-H programs conducted by committees. Committees available for service may include 4-H Advisory Council, Project Related Committees, and Endowment Board. Contact your County Extension Educator to learn more about your county’s 4-H committee structure and responsibilities.
Food and/or Fashion Board: Teens, with experience and interest in the foods and clothing projects, work with Extension staff and adult volunteers to develop programs for members in these areas. Activities may include workshops, clinics, camps, judging activities and more.
Junior or Teen Club Leader: 4-H members, age 13 and older, assist 4-H club advisors, teach younger members project skills, and lead various club activities. Club advisors should meet annually with club teen leaders to plan their role(s) in the 4-H club.
Jr. Fair Board: Teen volunteers plan and coordinate Jr. Fair activities in collaboration with Sr. Fair Board and other adult volunteers. Members learn teamwork as they provide the leadership to conduct numerous Jr. Fair events.
Teen or Junior Leadership Program: Teens, age 14 and older, assist with planning countywide 4-H events and community service as they explore and build their leadership skills. Contact your County Extension Educator to learn about your county’s teen or junior leadership program.
