4-H Volunteer Orientation

• Welcome
• Overview
• Learning Units
• 1 - History
• 2 - Youth Development
• 3 - Building Skills
• 4 - Ages and Stages
• 5 - Competition
• 6 - Character
• 7 - Safety
• Closing/Credits
• Required Quiz
• Optional Resources
• Print Version
• Technical Tips

Closing: Volunteer Wisdom

Summary
Over the years seasoned volunteers have told us that success depends on a volunteer's ability to:

• Motivate young people. Youth vote with their feet. If they don't enjoy what they are doing, they will simply stop attending 4-H events.

• Build on existing knowledge and skills. If you lack skills in a particular project area, it does not mean that you cannot be successful - it just may take more time to prepare for your project meetings. Learning with youth can be rewarding and effective.
  
  You can reinforce what you know about the Missouri 4-H program and youth development by exploring the online Volunteer Orientation optional resources and looking through the state Missouri 4-H website http://4h.missouri.edu/. You can also visit, call or stop by your local Extension center for more helpful information and assistance.

• Be prepared. Read the county 4-H newsletter each month to learn about important dates, deadlines for events and activities and helpful tips. Make sure you have needed equipment and materials.

• Invite others to help. Do not try to do too much or do it all alone. The best way to recruit a parent helper with an activity is to ask in person.

• Get started! All of us expect to do something when we volunteer; however, we all know it is easy to put things off. So, don't wait! Go out there and get started making a positive difference in the lives of youth.

In Missouri 4-H, we believe building youth is more important than building a project. The learning and development that takes place is more important than the final product.

Your commitment to serve as a trained and recognized 4-H volunteer is the heart of the Missouri 4-H program. All of the 4-H Center for Youth Development faculty and staff thank you for helping us build stronger youth.

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Continue reading for credits, optional resources and a Congratulations Message with Feedback Form instructions!!

Closing: Credits Thank you to all the individuals who made this online 4-H Volunteer Orientation possible: 4-H Center for Youth Development Program Faculty and Staff Tammy Gillespie, 4-H LIFE coordinator Cyndi Lemmon, 4-H Center for Youth Development 4-H volunteer pilot sites, including these 4-H faculty and their volunteer and mentoring groups: Pam Crass, 4-H youth development specialist, Southeast region Clara Green, 4-H youth development specialist, Southeast region Dave Hileman, 4-H youth development specialist, East Central region Dianna Koenig, 4-H youth development specialist, Southeast region Wilhelmina Saputo, 4-H youth devlopment assistant, Southeast region Donna Taake, 4-H youth development specialist, Southeast region ET@MO Instructors and Staff Boden Lyon Guy Wilson Kelly Holtkamp Tanys Nelson Marla Germann Assistance from: Frank Wideman, natural resources specialist, MU Extension, Perry County Gail V. Rice, literacy consultant Greg Parris, MU computer science/information technology student Human Environmental Sciences (HES) Extension Karen Gordy-Panhorst, 4-H volunteer/owner, Integrated Communications Missouri 4-H Foundation Rhonda Shafer, 4-H youth development specialist, Lincoln County Sandy Sands, MU Extension Council representative Steve Giesel, MU Extension Technology and Computing Services

Optional Closing Remarks/Volunteer Training Opportunities Resources
Feel free to explore the optional resources below.

• Indicates a website. Website links DO require an Internet connection.

• Indicates a downloadable PDF document. PDF documents are contained within this CD and do NOT require an Internet connection.
  To view the PDF documents, you will need the free Adobe Reader program installed on your computer. The Technical Tips section on the left of your screen includes a link to the free Adobe Reader program.

The entire collection of Optional Resources is also available on the menu to your left.

1.  4-H Web Links
http://4h.missouri.edu/resources/links
National and general interest 4-H web sites including National 4-H Council, National 4-H Headquarters and the 4-H mall. 

2.  Missouri 4-H Foundation
http://4h.missouri.edu/foundation/
The Foundation secures and manages financial resources to enhance and expand the Missouri 4-H program.

3.  Missouri 4-H Volunteer Resources
http://4h.missouri.edu/getinvolved/volunteer/
Giving time and commitment directly from the heart!  Resources and information for Missouri 4-H volunteers.

4.  Monsanto
http://www.monsanto.com/
International agricultural company and partial sponsor of Missouri 4-H Volunteer Orientation trainings conducted in the fall of 2007. 

5.  North Central Region Volunteer Forum
http://4h.uwex.edu/ncvlf/
Regional yearly event for 4-H volunteers

6.  Online Leader Training for 4-H Volunteers: A Case Study (Journal of Extension, 2005)
http://www.joe.org/joe/2005april/a4.shtml

Congratulations! You are ready to take the online Feedback Form/Quiz! If you are not a Missouri 4-H volunteer, please do NOT take the Feedback Form/Quiz. Find the instructions and link to the online form at Required Feedback Form. If you have any questions or problems taking the feedback form, contact us by email at um4htraining@missouri.edu. Be sure to provide your full name, email address and/or phone number. Thank you.

 

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