Maine 4-H Volunteer Training Opportunities

4-H Volunteer Calendar of Training Opportunities
Year-at-a-Glance 2022-2023

Maine 4-H is offering a variety of workshops and training opportunities for our 4-H volunteers! Some are virtual, some are in-person- choose one, choose a few- it’s all up to you! These interactive sessions will give you a chance to learn something new and connect with other 4-H volunteers. While there is no cost to attend, registration is required.

Register Online

Have an idea for a future workshop topic? Please contact Jen Lobley, Extension Professor, Volunteer Development, at jennifer.lobley@maine.edu.


 

March/April 2023

Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey

Tuesdays, March 28 and April 4, 2023 , 12:00-1:00 p.m. (virtual)
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Thinking about becoming a 4-H volunteer? Or know someone who would be a great fit? We are looking for people to help youth find their spark and thrive!  We offer lots of ways to be involved depending on your time and interests. Join us for two one-hour virtual sessions to learn more!

Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey

Wednesdays, April 19 and April 26, 2023 , 6:00-7:00 p.m. (virtual)
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Thinking about becoming a 4-H volunteer? Or know someone who would be a great fit? We are looking for people to help youth find their spark and thrive!  We offer lots of ways to be involved depending on your time and interests. Join us for two one-hour virtual sessions to learn more!

Cooking for Crowds- Food Safety Training for Volunteers

There’s a lot to learn about safe food preparation and handling. Unsafe food can “spoil” your group’s reputation — and its finances. Don’t take a chance. Learn up-to-date methods for safely preparing, handling, and serving food for large group functions such as a 4-H food booth, a club event or community fundraiser.  Participants receive Cooking for Crowds – a manual specifically designed for volunteer cooks, a certificate of attendance, and an instant read thermometer.

Sessions take place March 28-April 25. Materials fee is $15 and registration is required. Visit the Cooking for Crowds website to register for a session near you or a virtual workshop.

 


 

Past Training Sessions

February 2023

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training in Augusta  (postponed)

Saturday, February 11, 2023 (Snow Date: Saturday, February 25, 2023), (in-person)
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 27, 2023

This training teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18.  Participants must complete mandatory two-hour online pre-work before the training.  Participants must also attend the entire six-hour in-person training to become certified.  

 Igniting Youth Sparks

Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 6:30-8:00 p.m. (virtual)
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Northeast Region Volunteer Connections, Session 4
Every youth needs a champion to help light their Spark. Join us to learn ways to encourage youth to go beyond exploring their interests to discovering their purpose and direction.

January 2023

Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey

Thursdays, January 12 and 19, 2023, 10:00-11:00 a.m. or 6:00-7:00 p.m. (virtual)
Registration Deadline: Thursday, January 5, 2023

Thinking about becoming a 4-H volunteer? Or know someone who would be a great fit? We are looking for people to help youth find their spark and thrive! We offer lots of ways to be involved depending on your time and interests. Join us for two one-hour virtual sessions to learn more!

Growing Life Skills Through Animal Science

Wednesday, January 25, 2023, 6:30-8:00 p.m. (virtual)
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Northeast Region Volunteer Connections, Session 3
Livestock projects and animal science is not just about getting youth into the show ring. How we make connections to life outside the ring can provide youth with skills that will last a lifetime. Join us to hear some perspectives on how to up your animal science game!

November 2022

4-H Volunteer Unconference in Lewiston

Friday, November 11, 2022, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (in-person)
Lewiston High School
Registration Deadline: Friday, November 4, 2022
REGISTER HERE!

A volunteer forum led by 4-H volunteers for 4-H volunteers. UMaine 4-H Unconference is intentionally designed to have YOU teach and learn from each other.  There is no agenda – you come with 4-H ideas and topics you want to talk about or learn more about, and we’ll guide the process to get folks into groups where YOU are the experts. Sample sessions might include: working with Cloverbuds, effective 4-H Leaders’ Associations, project records, animal science activities, ideas for including STEM, and many more – the group decides the topics at the beginning of UMaine 4-H Unconference. All experience levels are welcome and no one person has all the answers.

Your Relationships Matter

Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 6:30-8:00 p.m. (virtual)
Registration Deadline: Monday, November 14, 2022

Northeast Region Volunteer Connections, Session 2
Explore why your relationships with youth in 4-H matter and the impact that you have in your community by building crucial developmental relationships that youth need to thrive.

October 2022

Recruiting and Retaining Youth and Families

Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 6:30-8:00 p.m. (virtual)
Northeast Region Volunteer Connections, Session 1
Registration Deadline: Monday, October 17, 2022

Join us for a conversation on how to invite new youth and families into the 4-H program through communication, a sense of belonging, and having fun.

Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey 

Wednesday, October 19 and 26, 2022, 6:00-7:00 p.m. (virtual)
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, October 12, 2022 | Registration has ended for this event.

Thinking about becoming a 4-H volunteer? Or know someone who would be a great fit? We are looking for people to help youth find their spark and thrive! We offer lots of ways to be involved depending on your time and interests. Join us for two one-hour virtual sessions to learn more!

4-H Volunteer Unconference, Belfast

Saturday, October 22, 2022 , 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (in-person)
UMaine Hutchinson Center
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 14, 2022 | This event has been canceled due to low registration numbers.  Please register for the event in Lewiston on November 11.  

A volunteer forum led by 4-H volunteers for 4-H volunteers. UMaine 4-H Unconference is intentionally designed to have YOU teach and learn from each other.  There is no agenda – you come with 4-H ideas and topics you want to talk about or learn more about, and we’ll guide the process to get folks into groups where YOU are the experts. Sample sessions might include: working with Cloverbuds, effective 4-H Leaders’ Associations, project records, animal science activities, ideas for including STEM, and many more – the group decides the topics at the beginning of UMaine 4-H Unconference. All experience levels are welcome and no one person has all the answers.


The University of Maine is an EEO/AA employer, and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

For more information or a reasonable accommodation, please contact Jen Lobley at jennifer.lobley@maine.edu or 207.255.3345.