- Author: Steven Worker
Guidebook and workshop series helps 4-H project leaders learn about their roles, responsibilities, lesson planning, making learning engaging, and working with youth leaders.
California 4-H relies on and recognizes adult 4-H volunteer educators who bring knowledge, experience, and passion to work with youth. Adult 4-H volunteer educators who provide learning experiences (as project leaders) are one of the most important influences on youth development and educational outcomes. California 4-H committed to preparing our volunteers to facilitate high quality youth development and learning experiences to 4-H youth members.
An Update to the 4-H Project Leaders Guide
In August 2023, the UC 4-H Volunteer Educators' Guide: For Those Facilitating 4-H Educational Experiences, authored by a team of 4-H Advisors, was published as a 40-page peer reviewed publication. It was a needed revision to the 2007 4-H Project Leaders' Digest, in order to incorporate the new 4-H Thriving Model of Youth Development, and other emerging research on education.
The guide is useful for 4-H volunteers in community club projects, afterschool club programs, day camps, special interest (SPIN) clubs, teenagers-as-teachers programs, and other educational experiences. The guide provides an overview of the 4-H Youth Development Program, its mission and goals; key program content areas; best practices; volunteer expectations and support; and a look at the underlying science of youth development that support the 4-H approach.
Online Workshop Series for 4-H Project Leaders
In September/October 2023, the volunteer workgroup launched an online workshop series to help make the written guide “come alive” and support 4-H volunteers in meeting, sharing, and learning.
The entire series consists of 4, 2-hour sessions for a total of 8 hours. While the series is probably most beneficial to new 4-H volunteer educators, even those who have been project leaders for years have learned something new.
Thus far, 80 4-H volunteers from 30 counties have completed the 8-hour series! See the list of those who completed the 8-hour series (updated April 1, 2024).
We found statistically significant improvement in all learning objectives:
- Nurturing youth sparks, sense of belonging, and positive relationships with adults;
- Facilitating hands-on experiential education and planning your project;
- Working with all ages and abilities; and
- Creating effective youth-adult partnerships & working with youth leaders.
The sessions were valuable in helping 4-H volunteers strengthen their knowledge of important youth development and educational concepts needed to implement high quality 4-H learning experiences.
“What were the most important things you learned you plan to use in your 4-H projects?”
"I got some ideas on how to development better relationships with youth and ideas on how to help them find their sparks."
"I really appreciated all the very practical suggestions about how to actually strengthen the foundational components - there are several I will by trying out in or projects and meetings."
"I learned I can lean on the established material for youth development. Feeling supported in this new endeavor as I am new to this."
"Talking with other project leaders, and learning tips from more experienced leaders on how to engage youth."
"There is a project plan form after I planned my meetings completely. I will be printing the form and using it."
"Really great to learn more about the 4-H project plan. I've led projects for 5 years and this will be the first year I prepare one (a bit belatedly). Thank you!"
"I'm definitely sharing the project planning document with other project leaders in my club. This was a very helpful tool I was not aware of. Thank you!"
"The importance to have all ages being involved in the projects and allowing the older members teach the younger members."
"The characteristics and implication for activities for each age group presented nicely and I will consider this more in the project activities."
"How to tailor each project/project meeting to all the different age groups and learning abilities."
"Hart's Ladder (thinking how to move up to upper level would help me plan activities & project meetings). Leadership Competence Chart was wonderful."
"Give members more options to voice what they want to learn and how they can learn it. Give them more opportunities to lead and help in any way they can."
Fall 2024 Workshop Series for 4-H Project Leaders
The series is being offered again on Wednesdays in September 2024. Registration is now open! Register
/h2>/h2>/h2>/h2>/h3>- Author: Christine Casey
It's simple: the Haven wouldn't be here today without volunteers. Their hard work of pruning, weeding, mulching, and assorted other tasks has made the Haven what it is today. Volunteers are also essential to our outreach events. Since 2014, volunteers have contributed 2813 hours of service, which has a value of $94,207.
Volunteers who have contributed at least 25 hours are listed here. I've enjoyed working with these fantastic people. Thank you to all of them!
![Eric builds raised beds Eric builds raised beds](http://ucanr.edu/blogs/TheBeeGardener/blogfiles/106769.jpg)
![Connie inspects our bee hive Connie inspects our bee hive](http://ucanr.edu/blogs/TheBeeGardener/blogfiles/106763.jpg)
![Diane builds bee display Diane builds bee display](http://ucanr.edu/blogs/TheBeeGardener/blogfiles/106766.jpg)
![Rick installs bee hive display Rick installs bee hive display](http://ucanr.edu/blogs/TheBeeGardener/blogfiles/106767.jpg)
![Betty builds bee houses Betty builds bee houses](http://ucanr.edu/blogs/TheBeeGardener/blogfiles/106768.jpg)
![Barbara prunes Barbara prunes](http://ucanr.edu/blogs/TheBeeGardener/blogfiles/106764.jpg)
- Author: Barbra Pushies
Watch video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4W_CYgEmNF8
As we bring National Volunteer Month to a close, we are honored to highlight a group of outstanding UC Master Gardener volunteers who have been nominated for their work in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within their communities. These UC Master Gardeners have demonstrated a dedication to creating a more inclusive environment in gardening and volunteerism. Join us as we celebrate these inspiring Gardeners with Heart for their invaluable contributions to fostering diversity and equity in gardening and beyond.
Kathy Kaplan, a UC Master Gardener of Santa Clara County, embodies the spirit of inclusivity and effective volunteer leadership. She cultivates a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, ensuring everyone feels heard and valued. Kathy created and helps run “The One World Kitchen Garden” at the Martial Cottle Park Demonstration Garden. The “One World Kitchen Garden” demonstrates growing edible plants embraced by the many cultures represented across Santa Clara County, showcasing the rich diversity in our local communities. To promote inclusion in the program, Kathy intentionally plans two weekly demo garden workdays, one during the week and one on weekends, to accommodate MGs with different employment statuses and schedules.
Linda Mansell, Julie Avis, Guma, Kim Jacobs, and Rudolfo Milito form a dynamic team within the UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County that supports its DEI efforts. This team's extensive work translating resources into Spanish has expanded access to gardening knowledge and resources for Spanish-speaking communities across California. Each month, the team translates its gardening advice column in the Press Democrat for use in the Spanish column, La Prensa, offering seasonally relevant advice on sustainable gardening and increasing awareness of the program and resources throughout Sonoma County. The county's Spanish website features links to videos they have produced in Spanish on multiple gardening topics. The team translated video scripts from English and reviewed them for cultural appropriateness. The team volunteers at events in the Latino community, distributes documents in Spanish, and answers questions. All of the UC Master Gardener projects in Sonoma County and across California benefit from the contributions of the Spanish translation team!
Debbie Spurling, a UC Master Gardener of Sutter-Yuba, has demonstrated dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion within her local program. As project leader for the UC Master Gardener training program, Debbie worked alongside several counties to determine best practices for volunteer recruitment. She ensured those elements were used in the volunteer advertising and interviewing process. Debbie also spearheaded a new mentorship program in the county to improve retention of new volunteers. This program was inspired by her own class graduating and experiencing a feeling of not being included in the larger population. She vowed that this would not be something other trainees would feel moving forward. At every step of developing and running the mentorship program, Debbie has worked to ensure that decisions were made through the diversity and inclusion lens, including in choosing a diverse selection of speakers. The mentorship program has gotten rave reviews from new UC Master Gardeners who say they have felt more included and welcomed.
We are immensely grateful for the dedication, passion, and hard work that Kathy Kaplan, Linda Mansell, Julie Avis, Guma, Kim Jacobs, Rudolfo Milito, and Debbie Spurling have demonstrated in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the UC Master Gardener community. Their collective efforts have enriched the lives of individuals and families, fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment for all. As we celebrate National Volunteer Month, let us extend our heartfelt appreciation to these Gardeners with Heart for their invaluable service and commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive world.
About National Volunteer Month and Gardeners with Heart
During National Volunteer Month (April 1 - 30), the UC Master Gardener Program celebrates its incredible volunteers and their contributions to California communities. Gardeners with Heart were identified by local county leadership as diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders because of their commitment to building connections with community-based organizations and underrepresented communities. Join us in honoring their dedication and passion for making a difference in the lives of others. If you would like to get involved and learn more about gardening in your community, you can find your local program here.
![MG with heart color logo blue gloves gold trim MG with heart color logo blue gloves gold trim](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/106353.png)
- Author: Barbra Pushies
Watch the video on YouTube here
As we continue our celebrations of National Volunteer Month, we're excited to spotlight a remarkable group of UC Master Gardeners dedicated to nurturing vibrant habitat gardens, promoting biodiversity, and advocating for sustainable landscaping practices. These exceptional UC Master Gardeners have transformed not only gardens but also mindsets, fostering a deeper appreciation for native plants and pollinators within their community. Join us as we celebrate and express our gratitude to these outstanding "Sustainable Landscape Stewards" for their unwavering commitment to enhancing urban biodiversity and promoting environmental stewardship.
Sam Foushee, Sally Hughes, and Jennifer Cardoza, tackled the challenge of revitalizing a plot near the vegetable trials garden at the Lake Merrit Trial Garden in Alameda County into a sanctuary for native bees. Their dedication and vision have created an oasis of biodiversity focused on plants that attract, shelter and feed native bees. The garden has expanded multiple times including preserving and protecting species of native plants to promote biodiversity. This project has inspired others and helped UC Master Gardeners build a deeper understanding of planting for pollinators and overall biodiversity that they have been able to share within their communities.
Birgitt Evans, helped the Lake Merrit Trial Garden grow and expanded its efforts by focusing on creating habitat areas tailored to the needs of butterflies. Her contributions have been instrumental in supporting monarch butterflies and fostering habitats for a diverse range of butterfly species, aiding in the conservation of these vital pollinators.
Jane Margold has taken the Lake Merrit Trial Garden Project to the next stage leading a citizen science project that monitors which plants attract which types of native bees and other pollinators. When completed, this information will be available to inform local native plant gardeners in making plant selection decisions to promote pollinators in Alameda County's microclimate.
Lindy Kauffman, an exceptional leader, spearheaded the establishment of educational sustainable gardens across Mariposa County. Lindy has overseen the design and installation of gardens showcasing swales to control water, sustainable mulching methods, and the use of climate-adapted plants. These gardens serve as educational resources for volunteers and the community alike. Lindy organized a cohort of UC Master Gardeners and AmeriCorps volunteers and collaborated with county, Chamber of Commerce, and other volunteer organizations to design and install a sustainable landscaping garden with more than 100 locally adapted plants.
Ann Northrup, leverages her background in plant pathology and has been integral to the success of Santa Clara County's online Plant Clinic. Her expertise and dedication to serving home gardeners has provided invaluable support, especially during the transition to virtual clinics amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through her commitment, the online Plant Clinic continues to thrive, reaching and benefiting an ever-expanding number of participants.
As we celebrate National Volunteer Month, let us extend our heartfelt appreciation to Sam Foushee, Sally Hughes, Jennifer Cardoza, Birgitt Evans, Lindy Kauffman, and Ann Northrup. Their tireless efforts and passion for sustainability have enriched our landscapes and inspired others to join in the collective endeavor to preserve and protect California's natural resources.
About National Volunteer Month and Sustainable Landscape Stewards
During National Volunteer Month (April 1 - 30), the UC Master Gardener Program celebrates the extraordinary contributions of its volunteers to promoting sustainable landscaping practices and biodiversity conservation. Sustainable Landscape Stewards volunteers were nominated for their outstanding work in creating and maintaining habitat gardens, fostering urban biodiversity, and promoting environmental stewardship. Join us in honoring their dedication and passion for making a positive impact on the environment and the community at large. If you would like to get involved and learn more about sustainable landscaping practices in your community, you can find your local program here
![MG with heart color logo blue gloves gold trim MG with heart color logo blue gloves gold trim](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/106167.jpg)
- Author: Ricardo A. Vela
UC ANR volunteers are estimated to make about 2 million public contacts annually (data prior to COVID-19) through activities where they promote research-based information from UC ANR experts.
Since 2018, one of UC ANR's goals has been for academics to develop and manage projects that allow volunteers to lead, with the intention of strengthening volunteer engagement.
Miner emphasized that the search for volunteers is continuous. However, due to the diversity of UC ANR's state programs and the strategic locations of UC Cooperative Extension, attracting the right people is not a difficult task.
But who are the right people to volunteer at UC ANR?
The ideal candidate is any adult willing to contribute to improve the lives of Californians. "Collaborating with UC ANR is a lot of fun and rewarding, as you have the opportunity to return to the community what it has given us and often help families who desperately need some support," said Miner.
Volunteering challenges
As the population in California moves from rural to urban areas, low-income families face disadvantaged situations. As a result, 6.8 million people live below the poverty level. This represents 1 in 6 California residents.
Latinos are one ethnic group hit harder by this problem. In California, 40% of the population is of Latino origin, yet the economic and social disparity is a sad reality for many of these families. Latinos comprise 51.4% of the population living
below the poverty level, which is why UC ANR maintains as one of its objectives to help these families through the available programs. To successfully achieve this objective, it is vital to have volunteers who are not only bilingual but also bicultural.
Juan Jiménez and his wife Michele are two of thousands of volunteers who collaborate with UC ANR. Both participate in the 4-H youth development program in Riverside County. They know the importance of being bilingual and bicultural. They also know firsthand the reward of volunteering. "Volunteering makes me feel human and that I'm contributing to the community and my family," Juan said.
For Michele, volunteering for the community she lives in is natural. “Since I was a child, I have been a volunteer; my parents instilled in me the service to our community, our church,” she said. “To me, it is a very normal and satisfying thing.”
Every year in April, not-for-profit organizations everywhere in the country celebrate and recognize the work of those tireless people who dedicate their free time to the benefit of others. UC ANR joins them, and from the bottom of our hearts, we say:
Thank you, Volunteers!