October 2026 4-H Volunteer Corner: Your corner for connection, tips, and tricks!
Kick off a great year!
Looking for ways to welcome back returning families and excite new members? Here are three quick ideas to launch your club’s new year with high energy:
- Host a “Brainstorm & Brownies” Session: Give your youth total ownership of their year! Pass around sticky notes and have members write down field trips they want to take, guest speakers they want to invite, or skills they want to learn. Group them on a poster board over snacks to build your annual calendar.
- Run a 4-H Scavenger Hunt: Break the ice with a quick hunt around your meeting space. Hide clues related to the 4-H pledge, the four H’s (Head, Heart, Hands, Health), or common project materials. Pair up new members with current members to help create a sense of belonging.
- Launch a “First Meeting” Service Project: Start the year focused on community. Spend 15 minutes of your first meeting doing something simple, like assembling personal care kits for a local shelter or writing cards to a nursing home. Use the kick off project to discuss what other community-focused projects youth might like to participate in throughout the year.
We want to see your kickoff in action! Email us your first-meeting photos or share YOUR new kickoff idea! We would love to feature photos and ideas in next month’s newsletter. Let’s make this the best 4-H year yet! 4-H@maine.edu
4-H Volunteer Huddle
Join us for a short “gather and learn session” to help you up your game. We meet on the first Friday of each month from 12:00-12:30 pm via Zoom. Whether you are an experienced 4-H volunteer or just getting started, there’s something for everyone. We’d love to see you there! No registration required! A Zoom link will be sent to your email each month.
October 2- ZSuites for Club Leaders It’s reenrollment season – join us for the opportunity to refamiliarize yourself with ZSuites and learn some tips and tricks about tools in the platform specifically for club leaders.
Upcoming topics include:
Nov 6- Beg, Borrow and Steal Idea Swap
Dec 4- 4-H National Trip Opportunities
Jan 8- Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships
Feb 5- Beyond Ready Survey Results
Mar 5- Break the Ice, Build the Group
April 2- Recognizing Growth, Not Just Achievement
May 7- 4-H STEM Toolkits
4-H Volunteer Opportunities Calendar
Find our 4-H volunteer training opportunities on our calendar of events here – scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe to the calendar and never miss upcoming events, workshops, and more!