4-H Volunteers

From the county fair to 4-H food shows to communication events, 4-H has several activities where youth benefit from positive adult feedback. You don’t have to be a content specialist; you just need a passion for helping youth reach their potential.

Each county has different events throughout the year like fundraisers, fairs, and food shows that require assistance, and we are always looking for a positive attitude and someone willing to lend a helping hand! Many events also require the help of volunteers who regularly assist in areas such as set-up, outreach, and registration.

Each county offers programs along content pathways to build mastery of skills while engaging youth in the larger 4-H community. We are always looking for volunteers skilled in a specific area of interest to lead workshops for youth. Some examples include baking, computer coding, sewing, gardening, and hiking. As the facilitator you create the experience, establish the schedule, and lead the fun!

New Hampshire 4-H hosts three annual events in which we bring youth together to learn and grow—a fall trip to Eastern States Exposition, a winter tween and teen retreat, and a summer teen leadership conference. These immersive learning opportunities equip young adults with confidence while building friendships among 4-H youth and volunteers from across the state.

Support for 4-H clubs can range from supporting volunteers who assist with meeting details and learning experiences to adult leaders who fully orchestrate events. Clubs meet from October to August and project areas include STEM, Animal Sciences, Healthy Living, Horticulture and Civic Engagement.

An incredible role in the 4-H community! In this role, you would work with youth in virtual settings to engage them throughout their work with the project-based Agri-STEM curriculum. You will gain knowledge about systems used in the kits and assist youth in reflecting on their experiences, ensuring that they take away the most important concepts from each activity. You should be comfortable with working remotely while keeping youth engaged and inspired.

A 4-H STEM Mentor engages with youth while learning about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. In this role, you will inspire youth to ask scientific questions, connect them to resources that help them discover new information, and assist them in the development of STEM-related skills. STEM plays a large role in the NH 4-H community, encompassing project areas from animal science to robotics and computer programming. 4-H STEM Mentors should be eager to motivate, inspire, and be a resource to youth discovering this pathway!

STEM Docents are a group of trained volunteers who educate and train other volunteers about STEM-related topics. The 4-H STEM pathway actively engages youth in scientific processes to enhance their understanding of scientific concepts. It targets youth from kindergarten through 12^th grade and allows them to learn from one another as well as mentors. In this role, you would learn about and then inspire youth to participate in STEM-related project areas.

As an Animal Science Mentor, you would learn about agriculture, including animal science and horticulture and engage youth in hands-on experiences including gardening, raising livestock, and learning about the scientific process that makes agriculture possible. The 4-H Animal Science pathway teaches youth the value of hard work, the reward of learning how to progress with an animal project, and the responsibility needed to be successful in raising animals. Within this pathway, there are countless opportunities to participate in workshops and events to learn more about the project areas.

As a Healthy Living Mentor, you would engage youth about making healthy and nutritional choices. Developing a healthy lifestyle has been an essential part of 4-H on the local and national level since its creation, and positive mentors are essential in creating healthy lifestyles. In this role, you would guide youth through fun and engaging activities such as constructing pizzas or learning about a well-balanced diet.

As a Healthy Living Mentor, you would engage youth in activities that get them active and outdoors. Spending time outdoors has become a treasured part of day-to-day life. A high level of outdoor activity contributes to more positive mental health, increased physical fitness, and a greater appreciation for nature. Your experience in this role would benefit not only the youth but yourself as well.

As a 4-H Teen Mentor, you would serve as role model that youth look up to and aspire to be. In the 4-H Teen Leadership pathway, youth are encouraged to step out of their comfort zone, find their voice, and strive to become the person they see for their future self. You would use your knowledge and experience to encourage youth to use their abilities to go out and make a difference. You would also connect youth to resources that can help them achieve their goals and strive for bigger and better things!