Adult Volunteer Enrollment

Being a volunteer

Our volunteers are a key part of the 4-H Youth Development Program.

By volunteering, you are helping to grow the skills of 4-H youth to be our future leaders.

Ways you can volunteer

Volunteering in 4-H is flexible and rewarding.  Share your expertise and experience with the youth and other volunteers to make things happen!

New Volunteers

All 4-H volunteers must apply and be appointed annually.

Process to become a new 4-H Adult Volunteer

1. Find a club

See our list of clubs to find one near you.  You can also contact the 4-H Office at 209-953-6106 for help in finding clubs near you to start you on the process of becoming a volunteer.  Contact the club leader to learn more about the volunteer opportunities available in the club.

2. Screening Process

All new 4-H volunteers must go through a screening process.  Our #1 priority in 4-H is the safety of our young people.  We do all we can to protect young people and keep them safe while they are in our care.  When you become a 4-H volunteer, you are part of the plan to keep our young people safe.

1. Complete the 4-H Volunteer Interest Survey in English or Spanish.

2. Create an adult volunteer profile on ZSuite*

Please make sure the Family email address you enter into the system is correct and one you check regularly.  The email will be used for most communications and to confirm your volunteer application.

*For Spanish: Call the 4-H Office at 209-953-6106.

3. Complete a California Department of Justice Live Scan background check. 

(The Live Scan form will be provided after the interest survey has been completed).

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.

3. New Volunteer Training

1. Online Training

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. Make sure you select the CA New Vol training for the current program year.  This interactive training series introduces you to the best practices in positive youth development that are used in 4-H.  The trainings are available in English and Spanish.

After you complete and submit your ZSuite profile you will receive an automated message with the eXtension login instructions. You can also call the 4-H office for this information. The email will go to the Family email account you entered in ZSuite.

2. New Volunteer Orientation at the County 4-H Office

All new volunteers in San Joaquin county are required to attend an orientation at the County 4-H Office. You may complete this step any time before June 30th of the current program year; this is the only step that does not need to be completed before you can work with 4-H youth.

4. Pay the $30 enrollment fee.

Payment Methods:

• Pay by card on our online payment survey.
• Pay at the 4-H Office by cash, money order, or check made out to UC Regents. 

5. Approval

The County Office reviews and approves 4-H volunteer appointments after:

• You complete the Interest Survey.
• You are signed up in ZSuite.
• You have passed the screening process.
• You have completed all of the online New Volunteer required trainings.
• You have paid the enrollment fee.

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

Returning Volunteers

4-H has grown in California because of the dedication of our volunteers. Some of our volunteers have supported 4-H for 10, 20 and 30 years or more!

Re-apply annually and complete all requirements before the first project meeting.

All 4-H volunteers must be appointed annually.  If you are a current 4-H Adult Volunteer, to continue in the next year you need to re-apply and be re-appointed before the first project meeting.

Re-application process

1. Update your ZSuite profile.

Log in to ZSuite to update your profile and enroll for the new year. Use the same email and password you used before. The system will let you know if you need to update it. DO NOT create a duplicate (new) account. Please make sure the email address in the system is correct and one you check regularly. Update it after logging in if necessary.

2. Take the Returning Volunteer Training in the online eXtension system.

You will receive the login information sent to your Family email after you update and submit your ZSuite profile application for the new year.  You can also call the 4-H office for this information.

3. Pay the $30 enrollment fee.

Payment Methods:

• Pay by card on our online payment survey.
• Pay at the 4-H Office by cash, money order, or check made out to UC Regents.

4. Get approved as a 4-H Volunteer.

After all the application requirements and mandatory trainings are completed, the 4-H Office reviews and approves the volunteer appointments.

NOTE: If you have a break in service

You have a break in service if you were not approved as a 4-H volunteer last year.  Please follow the process for New Volunteers when applying.