How to Start a 4-H Club

4-H Clubs are a key delivery mode of our county and State programming, without our clubs’ members would not have a community focused way of joining clubs. Clubs provide leadership, education and structure to a student focused interest area. These areas can range from animal agriculture, gardening, robotics and natural resources to sewing and photography and much more.  

 

Club Meeting frequency, does not have to meet year-round, note that the 4-H year is October 1st – September 30th  

 

Whose interacting with your club?  

Club volunteers, co-leaders, club officers, teen jr leaders, county 4-H educator, industry experts, etc.  

 

Steps to starting your club 

  1. Contact your local 4-H educator Connect With Your Local 4-H Office | UConn Extension 4-H 
  2. Become a leader and go through the 4-H Volunteer enrollment process
  3. Application completed in ZSuite
  4. UConn Custodial care HR Background Check and reference checks
  5. Face to face training  
  6. Letter of approval  
  7. Minor protection training  
  8. Create a club name, voted on by club and select its project areas. Club names are chartered on the county level once the club name is determined by the members.   
  9. Discuss if affiliation with CT 4-H Foundation for financial transactions is necessary for your club. Clubs that plan to obtain grants or maintain bank account (collect dues, purchase supplies, pay registration fees) will need to have a bank account. (Optional) 
  10. Recruit potential members from communities  
  11. Hold meetings for the club to discuss events and more  

                     

                    Club requirements 

                    1. Clubs must have a minimum membership of 5 youth from 3 different families 
                    2. Members participate in a Community Service project 
                    3. Members engage in Public Speaking 
                    4. Members have a project for in-depth study and are evaluated  
                    5. Members must complete a record book for the project area 
                    6. Submit Club summary report by October 15th of each year  
                    7. Submit Club enrollment & member/leader registration by November 15th of each year 

                               

                              Types of Clubs  

                              4-H Club: Open to 7 to 18 year olds as of the January 1st deadline. Focused on specific project areas and provides feedback to youth.  

                               

                              Club Explorers: Open to 5 and 6 year old members these clubs are not tied to a specific project but instead an exploratory club for members to get an idea of what they might wish to pursue in the future. These clubs must meet separately from a 7 to 18 club. Volunteers have additional training to meet the needs of these club members.   

                               

                              Independent Membership: Independent membership is available for youth that do not fit into a specific club, would like the flexibility of pursuing a project on their own schedule talk to your county educator for further information.