More than 1,500 youth in Wayne County participate in 4-H clubs, projects, camps, and other activities throughout the year. Approximately 400 caring adults volunteer their time and talents to help our youth grow into contributing citizens.
There are many different ways to get involved as a 4-H volunteer. 4-H volunteers can choose how involved and active they want to be from a variety of roles and functions. Here are just a few examples:
- Serve as a club advisor
- Help out as adult staff at 4-H camp
- Assist with special events like project judging and skillathon
- Help to plan club activities and field trips.
- Coach club officers on how to run a meeting
- Get involved in one of our many countywide action committees to prepare for and conduct Jr. Fair activities at the Wayne County Fair.
With 400 volunteers, you may be wondering why we need additional volunteers. However, just as there are youth that age out of 4-H membership each year, there are also volunteers who “retire” from their volunteer roles. So now is the perfect time of year to get the process started for anyone that desires to work with youth, as there are important steps that must be completed prior to becoming a 4-H volunteer.
All potential 4-H volunteers must pick up a packet of information and forms from the Extension Office or download a copy from our website at wayne.osu.edu. The packet contains an application, instructions for identifying two references, standards of behavior agreement to sign, and information about obtaining a fingerprint background check. Once all paperwork and the background check is complete and turned in, potential volunteers will participate in an orientation / interview session and can then be approved to work with youth.
Some areas where we currently are in need of new / additional volunteers are:
- Wooster City & Orrville City School Districts – we could use one or two new 4-H clubs with 3-4 club advisors at a minimum per club in both Wooster and Orrville school districts
- 4-H Shooting Sports – we continue to have a high number of 4-H youth expressing interest in the 4-H shooting sports projects, but we currently do not have enough adult volunteers that have been certified to serve as Ohio 4-H Shooting Sports volunteers in Wayne County.
If you have an interest in becoming a 4-H volunteer or learning more about the process, please contact me at the Extension Office.
Doug Foxx is an OSU Extension 4-H Youth Development Educator and may be reached at 330-264-8722.
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