Master 4-H Volunteer Program

Concept by Matthew J. MirandaCounty Extension Agent: 4-H and Youth

Development- Guadalupe County

Overview of Presentation

• Background to the program– Why do we need volunteers

• Existing Volunteers• One Time/Potential Volunteers• Barriers to Volunteering• The Master 4-H Volunteer Program• Future Plans for the Program

Why Do We Need Volunteers?• Volunteers and Adult Leaders are one of the

main cornerstones to an 4-H Program• Without well trained 4-H volunteers, 4-H

clubs, programs and project meetings would not be possible

• In extension, we always state the importance of volunteers but sometimes can’t find the time or the proper curriculum to provide effective volunteer support and training

What is the Need?• Currently in Guadalupe County, there are nearly 37,000 youth

– An increase of nearly 15,000 since 2000• Number of 4-Hers?

– In 2011-2012, there were 510 youth enrolled in traditional community clubs

• Number of youth enrolled in school enrichment programs?– Approximately 3,500 youth in multiple school districts

• Number of 4-H volunteers in the county?– 225 registered and screened

• Many counties have only one or two agents

• Some counties share agents as well• Even in counties where there are more

agents, the numbers of 4-Hers and leaders are usually higher

What is the Need?

What is the Need?• With the sheer number of youth in the state of

Texas (nearly 7 million), there are not enough extension professionals to reach every child

• Simply put, we as agents cannot exceed or even maintain our current level of assistance without volunteers

Our Existing Volunteers• In 2011-2012, there were over 104,000

volunteers for the 4-H Program in the State of Texas

• These volunteers do everything from acting as club managers to running exchange programs, organizing contests and helping in the show barn

• While we do have a lot of volunteers, a recurring theme in their comments have to do with training opportunities

Our Existing Volunteers• In 2011, an evaluation was

conducted on the members of the Guadalupe County Adult Leaders and Parents Association (ALPA)

• 30 parents and adult leaders were asked about the 4-H Program in general

• They were also asked about the opportunities for volunteer development and areas that need improvement

Our Existing Volunteers• 85% of the sample said they found themselves

“somewhat familiar” with the 4-H program– The middle of the 5 point scale

• 90% of the sample said they did not receive enough training as a volunteer when they first joined 4-H

• A majority of the respondents indicated they did not feel completely sure they could properly run a 4-H project meeting or help at a curriculum enrichment program with their current training– Even being a leader for more than 3 years

Testimonials I want to know more of what is

expected of a volunteer

I want to get re-involved in the 4-H Program

I’ve been a leader for 13

years and I feel like I still don’t know enough

There needs to be better instruction for new and old project leaders

I would like to learn about

how to teach kids in a 4-H

project

Our Existing Volunteers• From this informal evaluation, it was

clear that type of training the volunteers needed/wanted was quite different than the current standard

• Volunteers are currently trained once a year

• Most trainings are basic information on the 4-H program in general and are geared toward new volunteers

• Much of it is the same information rehashed directly the volunteer training manual

Volunteers From Outside of 4-H• While we have over 100,000 direct extension

volunteers in Texas, there are countless others that help in different ways

• One Time Program Volunteers• Community Leaders• Church Leaders• School Leaders• Other Volunteers and Leaders

One Time/ Programmatic Volunteers

• These are volunteers that are not in the extension system

• They are primarily used for one time programs • Examples include:– Ag Days/ Fairs– Water Fairs– Safety Days– Workshops/ Trainings– Programs at club meetings– Others

Potential Volunteers• They may be volunteers or members in

other organizations– Kiwanis, Elks Club, Boy/Girl Scouts, etc

• They may be in, or retired from, particular areas of interest– Ag Producers, Photographers, Military,

Food Service, Etc• They may have had kids in the 4-H

Program that have since graduated• They may be different leaders, officials,

teachers or other parents in the community

Barriers to Volunteering• Why don’t people Volunteer?– Lack of time– They believe they won’t be able to make a

difference– No one asked them

• Why don’t 4-H Volunteers return?– They feel they have been under utilized– They don’t feel they have made a difference– Their kids have left the program– They feel they haven’t had the proper training

So How do We Change This Problem??

The Master 4-H Volunteer Program

• SO, what IS a Master 4-H Volunteer ?• This will be a person that is trained in particular areas

of 4-H to make them better able serve the needs of the 4-Hers, County Agents and stakeholders

• Master 4-H Volunteers will focus on several aspects of the 4-H program including: – Project meeting facilitation (any kind of project)– Project development (any kind of project)– Club Meeting Facilitation– School Enrichment Programs– Recordkeeping– Interpretation and Evaluation– Project Specific Training

The Master 4-H Volunteer Program

• How is this any different from the other Master Volunteer programs?

• While there are other Master Volunteer Programs (Livestock, Gardener, Naturalist) this one is geared specifically to 4-H programs, club and project work

• These volunteers will be trained in some of the same areas that Extension Agents are trained in

• Every volunteer will be screened and cleared by the Texas 4-H Program.

• Part of a Cohort (like the Master Gardener Classes)

Primary Goals of the Master 4-H Volunteer Program

• To equip volunteers with the proper knowledge base and skill set to effectively assist in the implementation of the 4-H program in Guadalupe County

• To prepare volunteers for acting as project leaders, activity leaders and mentors (Livestock and others)

• To prepare volunteers for assisting in or leading school enrichment and other activities– Through instruction in teaching and learning

skills/ styles, program implementation, evaluation and more

The Master 4-H Volunteer Program Requirements

• Must attend 10 trainings– Each meeting is a different subject

• Must attend at least 25 hours of instruction (part of the 10 meetings )

• 50 Hours of Volunteer Service– Could be done through leading

projects, school enrichment, etc. • Must participate in at least one school

enrichment program • Cost- To Be Determined( If needed)• 10 Classes will be trainings in different

areas

Main Areas of Focus• Program Development Model– Used by AgriLife Extension

• Teaching Methods/ Styles• Learning Methods/ Styles (Educational Methods)• Methods of Communication• The 4-H Project• Youth Protection & Screening• Evaluation • Interpretation

Master 4-H Volunteer Class Structure

• Class #1: What is 4-H/ Educational Philosophy – The overview of the 4-H program– Introduction of the Program Development Model– The “What’s” of 4-H– Writing an Educational Philosophy

• Class #2: Educational Theories and Methods– Learning the various theories of education – Learning which philosophy you follow and how

to use it– Developing methods of education

Master 4-H Volunteer Class Structure

• Class #3: Learning and Teaching Styles– What styles of learning/teaching are

out there– What are YOUR styles of learning and

teaching– Adaptation to learner’s method

• Class #4: Communication Methods – Learn how to communicate with your

group– Public Speaking Skills – Web Communication

Master 4-H Volunteer Class Structure

• Class #5: The 4-H Meeting– The ins and outs of the 4-H Project meeting– Project meeting ideas– Finding the right project to teach

• Class #6: 4-H Recordbooks, Scholarships and Contests– Learning about the many opportunities

4-H has to offer– Specifics on these major parts of the 4-H

program– How to help kids do well in these areas

Master 4-H Volunteer Class Structure

• Class #7: School Enrichment– Learn about 4-H outside of the club– Focus on the different programs offered by

Extension– Learn about the programs currently offered in

Guadalupe County• Class #8: Evaluation

– Making sure your programs WORK!– Evaluation Methods– Different methods for different situations

Master 4-H Volunteer Class Structure

• Class #9: Interpretation and Outreach– Why does your programing matter– Learn to tell others about your programming– Explaining Extension to the community– Interpretation methods

• Class #10: Putting it Together– Once you get your training, get ready to put it to use– The cohort will create a program using the skills

acquired in class– Writing goals and learning objectives

Benefit of the Program• Each volunteer will be taught many of the same

methods and techniques as a county agent• Volunteers will come away with a set of skills needed

to preform their duties as a 4-H Adult Leader• The volunteers are NOT intended to replace a county

agent, but to increase the number of programs and projects possible in a county

• These volunteers will also be better able to tell others (interpret) about the mission of Texas 4-H and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension– We shouldn’t be “the best kept secret in Texas”

Future of the Master 4-H Volunteer Program

• Program will start in Guadalupe County in 2013• Trainings will be led by county agents, community

leaders and specialists in various fields• Initial cohort will probably be kept between 10-15

maximum• Information for classes will be developed from

actual graduate-level college courses to give volunteers the best possible skill set

• Future cohorts will be co-led by members of the previous cohorts and the county agents

Resources

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service• Texas A&M University: ALEC Courses

601, 607, 610, 615 & 630• Guadalupe County Adult Leaders and

Parents Association

QUESTIONS???