Photo of several 4-H adult volunteers in a room holding 4-H signs

Top 3 Reasons To be a Delaware 4-H Volunteer

April 25, 2024 Written by Dr. Ernesto B. “Ernie” López, State 4-H Volunteer Specialist, University of Delaware Cooperative Extension

As we embrace the arrival of spring this April, we also celebrate the designation of this month as National Volunteer Month and share in grateful appreciation for the positive roles volunteers play in the lives of 4-H youth across the state of Delaware.

 

4-H Volunteers Answer the Call

From Brandywine Hundred in New Castle County to Bethel in Sussex County, 4-H continues to grow and play a meaningful and rich role in the lives of youth. As research continues to show the importance of positive youth and adult partnerships, 4-H volunteers answer the call, enabling youth to share collaborative and educational experiences every day. 4-H content and curriculum run the gamut of evidence-based research that comes directly from our partner land grant research institutions at the University of Delaware and Delaware State University.  

Much of this curriculum, taught by knowledgeable adults, runs parallel and supplementary to the daily classroom work of students. Yet, with summer soon starting and the end of the school year on the horizon, this 4-H curriculum continues and provides the much-needed academic and experiential-based work youth need in the months outside of their local schools. As we all know, the pandemic took significant classroom and cocurricular time away from our young people. The year-round work to rebuild the instructional time that was lost continues for 4-H youth and does so due to the time and efforts of our dedicated volunteers. 

 

Top 3 Reasons

Whether it be at camps, workshops, trainings or seminars, adult volunteers selflessly share their time to build our 4-H youth into capable, confident, and kind young adults. This level of selfless dedication and care is what our Delaware 4-H volunteers do at every interaction and every opportunity when engaging youth. To be a part of this intentional effort at making a positive difference in the lives of youth, consider the following reasons to volunteer:

 

  1. Positive Youth and Adult Partnerships Improve the Health and Wellness of ALL who Participate

  2. Volunteering in Delaware 4-H Provides Year-Round Opportunities to Serve Youth

  3. Becoming a Delaware 4-H Volunteer Enhances and Expands Social Connectivity Across Generations

A photo fo a group of adult volunteers sitting in a large room smiling and holding 4-H signs

If you have considered becoming a 4-H volunteer, there is no better time to begin than this April, during National Volunteer Month. 4-H staff in our state and county offices stand ready to guide and train you and, in turn, welcome you into the world of positive youth development. Call our State 4-H Office today at 302-831-2509 to start sharing your gift of volunteerism with 4-H youth across Delaware.  


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