Join Alameda 4-H

Eligibility:

Primary Members (also called Cloverbuds or Mini-members) – Must be 5 years old by December 31 of the program year.  Primary members cannot enroll in large animal projects.  Youth enrolling or turning nine after December 31 must participate as a Primary Member until the end of the program year (June 30). 

4-H Members – Must be 9 years old by December 31 of the program year and  may continue in the program until the end of the calendar year (December 31) in which they become 19 years of age.

Alameda County 4-H Enrollment Steps: 

Choose a Club. Access the list of 4-H Clubs in Alameda County and find a club. You will have to choose a minimum of one club when you enroll.

Contact the Club/Unit. Contact the Club/Unit Leader for the club/unit you are interested in joining to let them know you are enrolling.  They can give you more information about the club and types of projects they offer.

Choose a Project. Your club/unit leader can let you know what projects are open for enrollment.  You can choose the projects and activities that sound interesting to you.

Create a profile in 4-H Online.

4-H Online is our online enrollment system. You will need a family email to log in to 4hOnline. 

• All family members are grouped together in one family profile. 
• If you are under 18, please have a parent or guardian login to submit your medical release forms through the system.
• Please use an email address that you will check regularly. This email will be used to confirm your enrollment and send communications to you.
• Download instructions: 4-H Online Family Enrollment Guide

Submit your program fees. Program fees can be paid online using a credit card or you may pay using cash or a check directly to your Club/Unit Leader Volunteer at a club meeting. 

Alameda County 4-H 2020-2021 Youth Member Enrollment Fees are $104 if paid with a credit card online -OR- $100 if paid with cash or check directly to the club/unit. 

  

Get activated. Once the Alameda County 4-H Office staff reviews the enrollment, you will receive an email sent to your Family email account to confirm your enrollment status as Active. 

Once your membership is active, you can participate in 4-H events and activities!

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Alameda County 4-H Program. The 4-H Program would not be what it is without the time and dedication our volunteers give.

Who should follow this process: California Adult Volunteers who are starting their first year of service or are returning after a break of a year or more.

All 4-H adult volunteers must apply and be appointed annually. Please follow the process below to apply to be a 4-H adult volunteer.

1. Complete the 4-H Adult Volunteer Interest Survey.

• All new 4-H volunteers must go through a screening process. Our #1 priority in 4-H is the safety of young people. We do all we can to protect young people and keep them safe while they are in our care. An important part of providing a safe environment is to conduct background checks on our volunteers and staff. Everyone that will be spending an extended time with our 4-H youth is screened. When you become a 4-H volunteer, you are part of the plan to keep our young people safe.

• One-on-one interview may be required based on Interest Survey responses (will be notified by county-based staff or club volunteer).

2. Create a profile and submit 4-H adult volunteer application in the 4-H Online enrollment system.

   • Please note that the email address you enter in the family email is the primary way you will receive communications from 4-H. After creating your profile, please check your family email for information on next steps to becoming an approved volunteer. If you do not receive an email, please verify that the email entered in 4-H Online is correct and notify your County 4-H Representative.

3. Complete required courses in eXtension.

   • All new 4-H volunteers are required to take the New Volunteer Training online courses in the eXtension system before they become approved as volunteers. This interactive training series introduces you to the best practices in positive youth development that are used in 4-H.

   • Once logged in, click on 4-H & Youth, then 4-H: California, scroll down and click on “2022-23 California New Volunteer Course-English” and use enrollment key provided in email from 4-H Online to access the courses.  The courses take approximately 3 hours and do not need to be completed in one sitting.  They will pick up where you left off when you return.

     • Module 1: 4-H Orientation

     • Module 2: Foundations of Positive Youth Development

     • Module 3: Toward an Interculturally Connected 4-H

     • Module 4: Abuse Risk Management for Volunteers

     • Module 5: Reporting Child & Abuse Neglect (1 Lesson + Acknowledgement Questionnaire)

4. Register and attend the Beginning 4-H for Volunteers training required by our county.

   • The Beginning 4-H Volunteer will introduce you to the History of 4-H, Ages and Stages, Project Planning, Resources and more

   • Available dates for 2022:

     Beginning 4-H training for New Volunteers  

      

     Saturday, September 24, 2022 @ UCCE Contra Costa

     Saturday, October 15, 2022 @ - Location TBD

     Sunday, October 16, 2022 @ UCCE Contra Costa

     Saturday, November 5, 2022 @ Location TBD

     Saturday, December 10, 2022 @ Location TBD

     Saturday sessions are 10AM-2PM and Sunday session 1PM-4PM.

5. Complete Live Scan clearance with the State Department of Justice. Live Scan services will be provided at the Beginning 4-H for Volunteers training.  We can not use LiveScan clearance from another organization.

6. Submit your program fees. Program fees can be paid online using a credit card or you may pay using cash or a check directly to your Club/Unit Leader Volunteer at a club meeting. 

   Contra Costa County 4-H 2020-2021 Adult Volunteer Enrollment Fees are $32 if paid with a credit card online -OR- $30 if paid with cash or check directly to the club/unit. 

    

7. Once all the above has been completed, the application is reviewed by the county director

• If approved, notification of your 4-H adult volunteer appointment will be sent from 4-H Online. If no email address is available a letter will be sent by mail from the county director.

• If there are any limitations on the appointment, a subsequent letter will be sent from the county director.

• If not approved, a letter will be sent to the applicant from the county director.

Once you are approved, the fun begins!  Thank you for joining our 4-H family!