 How Can I Join 4-H?
There are many ways a young person may become a 4-H member or an adult can become a 4-H volunteer. Check out the variety of ways youth may participate in 4-H here - link to delivery methods.
Youth Participation: Individual Enrollment Process
In 4-H Clubs and most overnight camps, youth enroll using the enrollment form. In 4-H Clubs, members belong to a specific club and select a few projects offered by that club each year. Members attend monthly 4-H Club meetings and seperate project meetings. Youth individually enrolled are covered by 4-H accident/sickness insurance.
Youth are eligible to participate in 4-H if they meet the following criteria:
- Primary Member - Must be 5 years old or in kindergarten by December 31 of the program year. Primary members cannot enroll in large animal projects. Youth enrolling or turning nine after December 31 must participate as a Primary Member until the end of the program year.
- Junior, Intermediate and Senior Members - Must be 9 years old or in 4th grade by December 31 of the program year and may continue in the program until the end of the calendar year in which they become 19 years of age.
- Home Schooled Members - Children are to enroll based on their chronological age, as of December 31.
This enrollment form is used for youth in the following delivery modes:
- Organized 4-H Clubs
- Special Interest and Short-term programs meeting for at least six hours and not more than six weeks.
- Overnight Camping Programs
 Step 1: REQUIRED FORMS - The following forms must be completed in order to enroll in the 4-H program.
- Required Annually Form: Enrollment Form with youth and parent/guardian signatures (kept on file at the 4-H Office)
- Required Annually Form: Waiver of Liability (kept on file at the County 4-H Office)
- Required Annually Form: Medical Release and Health History (kept on file by the local 4-H Club/Unit Leader)
Step 2: PAYMENT - The following payment is required to enroll in the 4-H program.
In some cases, these fees may be covered or waived by the 4-H Club/Unit or County 4-H Office.
- 4-H Club/Unit Program Fees $TBA per youth
- County 4-H Program Fees $TBA per youth
- State 4-H Accident/Sickness Insurance and Program Fees $12.00 per youth
 Adult Participation: Application Process
4-H Youth Development Program Volunteers are appointed by the County Director. The decision to appoint or not appoint a volunteer (whether initially or upon renewal) rests with the County Director, in consultation with appropriate 4-H staff. All appointments are made for the best interest of the 4-H Youth Development Program and 4-H members.
Adults are eligible to participate in 4-H if they are 18 years of age or older. A volunteer cannot simultaneously be a 4-H member. Chaperones must be 21 years of age or older (county age requirement may differ).
This application form is used for adults in all delivery modes in which the adult will have contact with youth.
Step 1: REQUIRED FORMS, BACKGROUND CHECK, AND ORIENTATION
- Required Annually Form: Enrollment Form with signatures (kept on file at the County 4-H Office)
- Required Annually Form: Waiver of Liability (kept on file at the County 4-H Office)
- Required Annually Form: Medical Release and Health History (kept on file by the local 4-H Club/Unit Leader)
- Required Annually Form: Volunteer Confidential Self-Disclosure Form (kept on file at the County 4-H Office)
- Required First Year: Complete the background screening process including a Live Scan or BID-7 Finger Print Form
- Required First Year: Participate in a required 4-H volunteer orientation
- Counties may have additional clearance procedures such as:
- Interviews with 4-H YDP staff members
- In-depth reference checks
- Review of previous service within 4-H YDP
Step 2: PAYMENT - The following payment is required to enroll in the 4-H program.
In some cases, these fees may be covered or waived by the 4-H Club/Unit or County 4-H Office.
- 4-H Club/Unit Program Fees $TBA per adult
- County 4-H Program Fees $TBA per adult
- State 4-H Accident/Sickness Insurance and Program Fees $6.00 per adult
 Group Enrollment
Youth may be engaged with 4-H curriculum in a school or after school setting. There is no individual 4-H enrollment process for these types of settings. Youth are "group enrolled" and overall numbers are reported but not specific information on each participant. Group Enrollment Form.
This enrollment form is used for youth in the following delivery modes:
- 4-H School Enrichment. No 4-H program fees are required since the youth are under the direct supervision of the school personnel and do not participate in any out-of-school 4-H activities or events.
- 4-H Afterschool. No 4-H program fees are required since the youth are under the direct supervision of the school-age child care or afterschool agency or school personnel and do not participate in any out- of-school 4-H activities.
- 4-H Individual Study/Mentoring/Family Learning. No 4-H program fees are required so long as the participation is six weeks or less and does not include participation outside of the home.
- Instructional TV/Video/Webcast Programs. No 4-H program fees are required as long as the youth are not under the direct supervision of the 4-H YDP and the participation is in the youth’s home or under the supervision of another agency.
Youth and adults group enrolled are not covered under 4-H accident/sickness insurance.
Do not group enroll youth enrolled in Organized 4-H Clubs, Special Interest/Short-term Programs, Overnight Camping Programs.
ADULTS: This enrollment form is used for adult participants/organizers under the direct responsibility of an outside agency or organization. Adult volunteers who are not affiliated with the external agency and have direct contact with youth must use the 4-H Adult Volunteer Application Form.
Online 4-H Enrollment
 4hOnline is a new web-based system used to enroll youth and adults in the California 4-H Youth Development Program. 4hOnline may be accessed from any computer connected to the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Computer Requirements
You must use one of the following Web browsers:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or newer (for Windows users)
- Mozilla Firefox 1.5 or newer (for Windows and Apple users)
- Netscape 8.0 or newer (for Windows and Apple users)
- Mozilla Camino 1.5 or newer (for Apple users)
- Apple's Safari is NOT supported
You must enable cookies and Javascript.
Family Accounts
4hOnline groups enrollments within a “Family Account.” One family account is created to enroll youth and adults within that family.
Usernames & Passwords
The username is the family email address. In order to log in to the system or create a new family account, a valid email address must be used. Each family account must have a unique email address; they cannot be shared with any other family accounts. Passwords may be changed once you are logged into the system.
To Join a 4-H Club, contact your local
Cooperative Extension 4-H Office to find a 4-H Club near you!
Find 4-H Clubs Near You:
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