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Volunteer Leader Resources
*Most of these materials are available from your local Penn State Cooperative Extension Office.
Those items available on the web have been linked (indicated in green).
(S0915) Creating Service Learning Opportunities through Youth and Adult Partnerships (PDF File)
This guide describes ways to connect youth with their communities
(S5009) Are Your Meetings Ringing the Bell?
This resource is used by 4-H to analyze their club meetings and how they are conducted.
(S2007) Ages and Stages: Child and Adolescent Development, A Guide for 4-H Leaders
This guide is intended to help leaders gain insight into the needs and interests on 4-H youth. It addresses youth development characteristics and suggests ways to help 4-H'ers gain skills.
(S2008) Children and Youth: Their Growth and Development (PDF File)
This booklet provides an overview of the physical, mental, and social development in young children through adolescents. It is useful for those who work in youth programs with teen leaders and camp counselors.
4-H Food and Nutrition Updates
Dr. Jan Scholl
(S5006) Handbook for Activities Leaders
This Handbook describes the role of the leaders and the importance of activities to the 4-H program.
(S5005) Handbook for Project Leaders
The Handbook briefly describes project meetings, teaching methods, project importance, teacher assistance, and member characteristics.
(S5004) Handbook for Organization Leaders
This Handbook describes the role of the organization's leaders as well as ways to keep the club organized.
(S5008) How Lively Is Your Club (PDF File)
4-H leaders can use this guide to evaluate their club program.
(S2040) The Key to the Future: Volunteer Middle Management
This notebook is intended to describe benefits, roles, and processes of volunteer middle management.
Games: A Formula for Fun
A collection of games and group recreational activities for all occasions. Recreation leaders can select appropriate games for indoors or outdoors, active and not-so-active mixers, stunts, and dances. Tips are included to make the recreation portion of club meetings, camps, and other occasions fun for all.
(S2015) 4-H Guide to Ceremonies
This booklet gives step-by-step directions and scripts for planning and conducting 4-H ceremonies.
(S5011) Let's Look at 4-H and Handicapped Youth: 4-H Recreation Leader's Guide
This guide is designed to help leaders relate comfortable to handicapped youth. It also aids leaders in the ability to reach challenged youth effectively through 4-H.
(S5012) Recreation and Handicapped Youth: 4-H Recreation Leader's Guide
This guide is designed to assist leaders in adapting recreation activities to suit the needs of challenged youth in the 4-H program.
(S7010) Treasurer's Record Book
The Treasurer's Book contains tips for conducting meetings, and pages for recording meeting minutes, attendance, and enrollment records.
Training Module: (Download a PowerPoint Presentation)
(S7011) Reference Book for Treasure's
(S7002) 4-H Club Secretary's Book
The Secretary's Book contains tips for conducting meetings, duties of the secretary, and pages for recording attendance and minutes.
(S7003) 4-H Club Reporter's Handbook (PDF File)
This guide provides information for the club reporters as to how to report a news story by using the who, what, how, where, and when rules.
Leading Songs
Seven simple tips to help inexperienced individuals get started as song leaders.
(S7005) Suggestions for 4-H Club Officers
This pamphlet includes officer duties, order of business, election of officers, and tips for smooth meetings.
Helping: The 5th H
Participants learn to prepare youth leaders in helping (communication) skills. Leaders use the helping skills to become more effective in working with youth.
Participant’s Manual
Trainer's Manual
4-H Presents
This is a guide for leaders assisting youth who are speaking before groups. It describes the three basic methods of public presentation: the formal speech, illustrated talk, and the demonstration.
Speak Up
Speak Up provides all of the necessary steps a 4-H member needs to compete in a 4-H public speaking contest. This information is also very useful for anyone presenting a speech.
Letter to 4-H Families
This letter is sent to the families of 4-H members. It explains what 4-H is and gives parents the opportunity to become involved.
The 4-H You Two Program
This resource provides information on how children in 4-H, along with friends and family, can get involved in different 4-H projects. To enroll the child in this program, you can mail in the postcard portion of the material.
My 4-H Planning and Activity Guide (PDF File)
Youth can use this form to plan, record, and review their 4-H experiences over a year. Once completed they can submit the form to the 4-H leader to be evaluated.
Tips for Writing Your Speech
This sheet provides five helpful tips in preparing a public talk and a guide for developing a working outline for a speech.
Learning Through 4-H Judging
This booklet walks through the judging competition process including what is judging, why we have judging, how and when to train for competition, and how to organize a judging event.
Talking with TJ
Talking with is a series of innovative programs that help 2nd-4th grade students with social skills. The Teamwork Series teaches children cooperation skills, and the Conflict Resolution series shows youth how to solve problems without using violence.
Teamwork Program Kit
Teamwork Refill Kit
Teamwork Trainer Kit
Conflict Resolution Program Kit
Conflict Resolution Refill Kit
Conflict Resolution Trainer Kit
Cooperation, Competition, and Kids
This learn-at-home series deal with cooperation and competition in youth development programs. Both concepts are examined with respect to their roles in learning and achieving goals.
Issue 1. Striking a Balance
Issue 2. Competition and Self-Esteem
Issue 3. Learning and Participating; Cooperating and Competing
Issue 4. Adults and Kids Having Fun Together