Enrollment Information
Congratulations! You have started your journey to joining Santa Barbara County 4-H Community. We want to ensure that it goes as smoothly as possible for you and your family! We have outlines a list of steps to take to begin your enrollment.
Annual enrollment usually begins in October or September depending on each club. Although we have "open enrollment" all year, we need all youth planning on participating in livestock projects enrolled by Dec. 31st if they are RETURNING and before spring if it is your FIRST YEAR.
Keep three things in mind:
Some clubs have a meeting space capacity that keeps them from taking on more members.
We are run by volunteers. Some projects will be limited due to the capability, bandwidth, and assistance of our volunteer Project Leaders.
Enrollment via ZSuite closes from June - August
If you'd like to enroll your child in our program, please follow the steps below.
STEP 1
Contact a Community Club Leader
It is important to contact a 4-H Clubs, Community Club Leader before enrolling. We want to make sure that the club you're enrolling in offers the right projects, meeting style, and time that works for you and your family.
If you are returning to 4-H, it is always a good idea to let your club leader know that you are joining for another year.
STEP 2
(Click hyper-linked button above)
On August 14th, at noon, families will have access to begin self-enrolling youth in Z-Suite for 2026-2027
Ask your club Volunteer Enrollment Coordinator (VEC) for help if you have questions about enrolling online or if you do not have online access. Each club has a Volunteer Enrollment Coordinator (VEC) to help you enroll online. You can also check out the CA 4-H Resource Center to watch videos and how-to documents if you get stuck.
New Members will create a new Household and submit their enrollment.
Returning Members will log into their existing account and update and then submit their enrollment.
TIP: Make sure you remember your login email, password, and Household PIN(s).
STEP 3
Pay 4-H Membership Dues
2026-2027 Member Dues: $68/per youth member
Important Notes Regarding Payment:
Payment is due upon enrollment and participation. Families cannot postpone payment pending livestock participation.
- Participation
Participation is defined as engagement in at least one 4-H supervised activity, meeting, event, project, or program following enrollment approval during which insurance coverage is in effect. - If an enrolled 4-H Youth Member has not participated in any 4-H supervised activities, meetings, events, projects, or programs in the year enrolled, all the State, local county, VMO, and 4-H Unit/Club program enrollment fees paid by the family will be refunded if:
- a written request is received by the county 4-H office within *30 days of enrollment approval in the California 4-H Enrollment System;
- Requests may be submitted by letter or email and must include a completed 4-H Program Enrollment Fee Refund Request form. County 4-H staff will update the enrollment record as necessary.
- b. If an enrolled 4-H Youth Member has participated in any 4-H supervised activities, meetings, events, projects, or programs in the year enrolled, no enrollment fee refunds will be issued. This policy applies to general 4-H membership and 4-H enrollment fees only. Program enrollment fees are non-refundable once participation has occurred because 4-H members and adult volunteers are required to be covered by California 4-H accident/sickness insurance.
No partial refunds of 4-H enrollment fees will be issued.
Program enrollment fees support administrative, insurance, and program operation costs incurred upon enrollment approval. - 4-H Clubs with 4-H Staff approval may collect an additional fee of reasonable means. This goes directly to the club for their expenses and is approved based on budget and need. Make sure to double-check with your club to make sure this has been approved before giving any additional payment besides the minimum amount.
- We understand that it may be a difficult time for your family. We offer fee waivers when requested.
- Online forms of payment such as Venmo, Square, PayPal, and Zelle are not allowable for enrollment or fundraising.