Caldwell County 4-H Needs You!

Volunteers are the key to success in the Caldwell County 4-H program. Whether you’re interested in starting a club and becoming a club leader or just have a few hours to invest in upcoming 4-H programs, we have challenging and fun positions for adults and teens who want to make a difference.

Below are the open positions and their descriptions. Don’t see a role that fits your unique talents and interests? Let’s chat! Contact Sarah Kocher at sarah_kocher@ncsu.edu.

Please Note:

All 4-H volunteers who work directly with youth in any unsupervised capacity (i.e. club leaders chaperones, field trip helpers, team coaches, etc.) are required to complete and pass an NC State background check.

Participants at Caldwell County 4-H’s “Egg-Cellent Poultry” camp pose after an egg and spoon race. In addition to learning about poultry and food science, games were a highlight for youth and teen leaders who attended the program in July 2021.

Volunteers Needed: Open Positions

We are in search of community members to fill the following volunteer positions:

• Circuit Breakers 4-H Club Supporting Volunteers
• County Service Coordinator
• Civic Engagement Coordinator
• TEENS: Cloverbud Program Volunteers
• Sewing Machine Technician/Instructor
• Fiber Project Leader(s)
• After School Club Leader(s)
• Photography Club Leaders (or Supporting Volunteers)

Teens and adults walk through Pisgah National Forrest.

Circuit Breakers 4-H Club Supporting Volunteers

• Description: Help create a safe and welcoming environment, where youth develop meaningful relationships and valuable life skills. Assist with STEM activities and programs. We have one new electric leader and one administrative volunteer working with the club at this time.
• Time commitment: Time commitment is negotiable. Ideally, this position is a minimum calendar-year commitment. Leaders will spend about two to five hours per month on project work planning or working with youth. The Circuit Breakers have been meeting on the first Monday of the month at 6 p.m.
• Qualifications: Club Leaders and supporting volunteers must be cleared volunteers (endorsed by NC 4-H’s background check process) OR work toward this status after being selected. They must enjoy working with youth and be appropriate role models.

Submit your interest.

Submit your interest.

Civic Engagement Coordinator

• Description: We are in search of someone with a passion for teaching youth about civic engagement. This coordinator will work closely with the 4-H agent to develop one-of-a-kind programs, customized to Caldwell County youth. One program idea is to start a Kids Voting program in the county, similar to what Durham County Extension has been able to implement with partners.
• Time commitment: The position is a minimum one-calendar year commitment. The coordinator should expect to volunteer an average of at least five hours per month.
• Qualifications: Coordinators must be cleared volunteers (endorsed by NC 4-H’s background check process) OR work toward this status after being selected. No prior 4-H experience is required.

Submit your interest.

Community Conversations was a panel event with dialogue from leaders in Caldwell County, NC in July 2020. They gathered to answer questions submitted by youth on the topic “responsible civic engagement and how to stand up against racial discrimination.”

TEENS: Cloverbud Program Volunteers

• Description: Up to four teens can serve as Cloverbud Program Volunteers. Volunteers will assist with the planning and implementation of programs for youth ages 5-7. They will also work with the Cloverbud Program Coordinators.
• Time commitment: The position is a minimum one-academic year commitment. Teens should expect to volunteer two to four hours per month.
• Qualifications: Cloverbud Program Volunteers must abide by the 4-H Code of Conduct and participate in a short orientation prior to volunteering. No prior 4-H experience is required.

Submit your interest.

Sewing Machine Maintenance Technician/Instructor

• Description: Evaluate and maintain sewing machines and related equipment located at the Extension Office to facilitate upcoming fiber/sewing workshops, clubs, and events, and to assess potential needs in that regard. Optional – Possibly instruct 4-H youth in proper maintenance and use of equipment.
• Time commitment: This is a self-paced volunteer position. We have six machines needing serviced.
• Qualifications: No prior 4-H experience is required. Optional – If interested in teaching a maintenance class, the instructor must be a cleared volunteer (endorsed by NC 4-H’s background check process) or work toward this status.

Submit your interest.

Fiber Project Leader(s)

• Description: Introduce and guide youth in fiber-related projects, including sewing, crochet, knitting, weaving, or other relevant endeavors using fiber in your skill set. Help create a safe and welcoming 4-H community where youth develop meaningful relationships and valuable life skills. 
• Time commitment: The position is a minimum calendar-year commitment. Leaders will spend about two to five hours per month on project work planning or working with youth.
• Qualifications: Project Leaders must be cleared volunteers (endorsed by NC 4-H’s background check process) OR work toward this status after being selected. They must enjoy working with youth and be appropriate role models. They must also maintain an active volunteer profile in 4-H Online – assistance is available for this.

Submit your interest.

Pam Walker, volunteer with the Bear Paws 4-H Club, helps youth with their tie dye projects.

4-H After School Club Leader(s)

• Description: Club Leaders provide the necessary organization and structure for 4-H members to reach their full potential and grow into future citizens and leaders. We hope to establish after-school 4-H Clubs at elementary and middle schools in Caldwell County, and need volunteers to facilitate this. The main three categories of club leader responsibilities are record keeping, club communication and leadership. These can be best accomplished by working in a team or with co-leaders.
• Time commitment: The position is a minimum two-year commitment. Club Leaders spend about two to five hours per month on club work, which includes the club’s regular monthly meeting. Meeting dates and times will be determined by Club Leaders.
• Qualifications: Club Leaders must be cleared volunteers (endorsed by NC 4-H’s background check process) or work toward this status after being selected. They must enjoy working with youth and be appropriate role models. Club leaders participate in 4-H volunteer training once per year and maintain an active volunteer profile in 4-H Online.

Submit your interest.

Photography 4-H Club Leaders or Supporting Volunteers

• Description: Club Leaders provide the necessary organization and structure for 4-H members to reach their full potential and grow into future citizens and leaders. The  main three categories of club leader responsibilities are record keeping, club communication and leadership. Because this would be a new club, there is a lot of flexibility for interested volunteers and how the club might be structured.
• Time commitment: The position is a minimum two-year commitment. Club Leaders spend about two to five hours per month on club work.
• Qualifications: Club Leaders must be cleared volunteers (endorsed by NC 4-H’s background check process) or work toward this status after being selected. They must enjoy working with youth and be appropriate role models. Club leaders participate in 4-H volunteer training once per year.

Submit your interest.

A volunteer gives photography tips to during a 2021 summer program.

4-H Club/Volunteer Event Notification

Please complete this form to let our office know when 4-H activities or events outside of regular club meetings will be held.

4-H youth participate in Science Camp during Summer Exploring.