Volunteers

There are several steps to become an authorized 4-H volunteer:

LEADERS MUST BE FULLY ENROLLED (ALL STEPS) BY DECEMBER 31ST

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

Contact your local 4-H club if you are looking to become a project or resource leader for a club. If you are interested in starting a new club or if you would like more information volunteering at the county level contact our county office at sandiego4h@ucanr.edu.

All new 4-H volunteers must go through a screening process as our #1 priority in 4-H is the safety of young people. 

1.    Complete the online 4-H Volunteer Interest Survey in English or Spanish http://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=20714

2.    Create an adult volunteer profile on 4hOnline.* You must use your legal name. (If you already have 4-H members enrolled in 4-H, please add your adult volunteer to that account)

*For Spanish: Please fill in the paper enrollment packet in Spanish (PDF) and turn it in to your club leader or county staff for them to enter it into 4hOnline for you.

3.    Complete a background check from the California Department of Justice via the Livescan protocol.

• Livescan Form
• Find a Livescan Location (Please Call Locations to Verify Pricing, We are only charged for rolling fees)

4.     Pay $30 Fee (2021-22) to cover insurance for the year. Click here to pay via secure server.

5.    Complete the Leader COVID-19 Acknowledgments

6.    Complete the volunteer training

All new 4-H volunteers are required to take the New Volunteer Training online courses before they become approved as volunteers (a different training is completed annually after). 

After you completed your 4hOnline profile, an email with login instructions was sent. If you used a paper enrollment form, you will have to check with your County Extension Office for the instructions.

The following are downloadable instructions for eXtension:

1.    Log-in to your profile on 4hOnline.* You must use your legal name. (If you already have 4-H members enrolled in 4-H, please add your adult volunteer to that account)

*For Spanish: Please fill in the paper enrollment packet in Spanish (PDF) and turn it in to your club leader or county staff for them to enter it into 4hOnline for you.

2.    Only if break in service, or requested by county staff -  Complete a background check from the California Department of Justice via the Livescan protocol.

• Livescan Form
• Find a Livescan Location (Please Call Locations to Verify Pricing, We are only charged for rolling fees)

3.     Pay $30 Fee (2021-22) to cover insurance for the year. Click here to pay via secure server.

4.    Complete the Leader COVID-19 Acknowledgments

5.    Complete the returning volunteer training on eXtension (or new volunteer training if there is a break in service).