For Current Volunteers
2023 Michigan 4-H Volunteer Webinar Series: Building the Value of Your 4-H Club
A webinar series that will provide Michigan 4-H volunteers with a variety of learning opportunities to help them grow as a volunteer and support the Michigan 4-Her's. There will be a minimum of 6 topics offered throughout the year, with each topic offered twice as daytime and evening option. Everyone who attends at least four of the webinars in person will receive a certificate at the end of the series. 2023 topics include: Energizing your 4-H Club meetings, Creating a Welcoming Environment, Building the Value of your 4-H Club, Helping Youth find their Spark, Spice up your 4-H Experiences with 4-H Resources, and Youth Engagement in 4-H Experiences
4-H Online Resources
The following guide shows current volunteers (who are actively enrolled in 4-H Online for the current program year) how to login and access club rosters for the clubs they lead.
Financial Resources
Volunteer Resources for SPIN Clubs
Michigan 4-H is here to guide and support 4-H SPIN club volunteers. Here are a few resources to help get you started!
- SPIN club planning worksheet. This resource is helpful as you start your role as a volunteer and plan out the details for your 6-8 club meetings.
- SPIN club record of finances. This document is helpful when tracking expenses and income related to your club.
- SPIN club inventory record. This file will allow you to more easily track club owned items, their location, age and when discarded.
Useful curricula for SPIN clubs
The following curricula may be useful to SPIN club volunteers:
- MSU Extension Literacy Resources (family book sheets, literacy tip sheets, reading resources, etc.)
- Michigan 4-H Science Blast Activities
- Michigan 4-H Science Blast in the Class (teacher guide and lesson plans)
- Michigan 4-H Teaching Science When You Don’t Know Diddly-Squat (introduction and activities)
- Michigan 4-H Inquiring Minds Want to Know: Science Activities for Young Minds
- Michigan 4-H Animal Science Anywhere
- 4-H National Youth Science Day
- National 4-H Curriculum
- California 4-H - STEM or Healthy Living
- Ohio 4-H
- Utah 4-H Discover curriculum
Ages and Stages of Development
If you’re new to volunteering, the following resources from Virginia Cooperative Extension, adapted from the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension, will help you understand the various age groups served by 4-H.
- SPIN Quick Guide to Ages 9 - 11
- SPIN Quick Guide to Ages 12 - 14
- SPIN Quick Guide to Ages 15 - 16
- SPIN Quick Guide to Ages 17 - 18
Essential Elements of Positive Youth Development
If you’re new to volunteering, the following resources from Virginia Cooperative Extension, adapted from the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension, will help you understand the essential elements to positive youth development (PYD), a key aspect of Michigan 4-H.
- SPIN Volunteer Quick Guide to PYD
- SPIN Quick Guide to Generosity
- SPIN Quick Guide to Belonging
- SPIN Quick Guide to Mastery
- SPIN Quick Guide to Independence
Michigan 4-H Risk Management Checklist for Winter Activities
March 30, 2022 - Author: Dorothy Munn, Michigan State University Extension
This checklist is intended to support 4-H volunteers when groups are planning to engage in winter activities such as: downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, tubing, hockey, ice skating, ice fishing, snowshoeing, sledding, winter shelter building, winter biking, or dog sledding. It is crucial for 4-H volunteers to share with 4-H members how important its safety is when participating in winter activities. Encourage youth to help you identify potential risks and work with you to make the environment as safe as possible for everyone engaging in the activity.
Adapted with permission from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach; 4-H Risk Management Checklist for Meetings and Events, 4H-3039A, April 2018.