This might be your first year serving as a Cloverbud 4-H Volunteer or maybe you have been volunteering for many years. No matter where you are in your Cloverbud Volunteer Service planning each season should be fun and exciting for you and the members. We know you work hard to build and maintain a strong 4-H Cloverbud program. You already have an awesome club and you know your Cloverbud members, but now what do you do to plan?
Volunteers have good intentions to plan a wonderful season of hands-on Cloverbud events, snacks, games, learning and more. However, life sometimes happens and the season is not planned because of a lack of time or volunteers could not find resources and help! Here are a few easy tips as well as Ohio 4-H Cloverbud resources to help you navigate for a successful season as a 4-H Cloverbud volunteer! The Ohio 4-H program and 4-H professionals want this journey to be fun and rewarding for you and the members. Below you will find tips to help you know your resources and plan for your 4-H Cloverbud Season.
Tip #1-The first tip is to start at your County Extension office. Call or email your county 4-H professional to see what trainings and information are available for 4-H Cloverbud volunteers. Your county Extension office may offers kits, trainings, conference scholarships, supplies or even funding for clubs to use for Cloverbud programming.
Tip #2-It is a great idea to pick a 4-H season theme. Ohio has so many wonderful resources for you to use designed from food to animals to stem. This might help you narrow down the resources and meet the needs of your members. For example, if you are a volunteer in a livestock 4-H club with younger members interested in taking livestock projects, one day you can tailor your lessons to meet their interests. Other ideas might be nature, outdoor fun, stem, foods and nutrition, our country and many more.
Tip #3-Set the Cloverbud meeting structure. It might help you, your members and their families if they know what to expect during a Cloverbud meeting. Cloverbuds might start out meeting with the entire club (ages 8-18 years) and after the pledges and attendance head to their own meeting room for specialized Cloverbud programming. You design the length of the Cloverbud session, order of events and what will be included. For example, a Cloverbud meeting could include a get to know you activity, lesson, hands-on activity, game, snack and closing.
Tip #4-Ask for help at the club level. It could get costly designing and providing Cloverbud lessons so ask other volunteers in your club to bring in needed supplies. Put together a list of supplies you need for the season and see how the club members, parents and co-volunteers can help. You might also have a need for special guests or speakers and others in your club could be a resource. See if your county Extension office offers kits, supplies or even funding for clubs to use for Cloverbud programming.
Tip #5-Talk to other Cloverbud volunteers in your county to brainstorm. Reaching out to peers in your county can give you new ideas or even a foundation to follow when getting started. Sometimes just having time to talk with other volunteers is what you need to get inspired for the season.
Tip #6-Attend workshops to help you learn more about the program. Take advantage of any county, region or state trainings and conferences that can help you learn more about your volunteer role with Cloverbuds. This can be a great platform to learn about new resources and get new ideas.
Tip #7 -Know what resources Ohio 4-H has for you to utilize for Cloverbud members. The Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Team and staff have worked hard over the years to develop a variety of educational materials to help you in your role and the members reach their goals as Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Members. Visit the state site to learn and explore the various resources: https://ohio4h.org/cloverbudresources.
The Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities
4-H Cloverbud Volunteer Guidebook
4-H Cloverbud Connect to College
Horse Curriculum Instructional Materials
Click It, Print It, Do It…Activity Pages
Hopefully these tips will help you navigate the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud resources and help you plan for your most exciting 4-H Cloverbud season yet!