IMPORTANT: Each volunteer must go through a screening and training process in order to be certified to volunteer in any capacity. Please go to https://secure.georgia4h.org/enrollment/apply?Office_ID=239 or scan the QR code to begin that process.
Please note that this list is NOT all inclusive. If you would like to volunteer in a way that is not listed below, please contact the Gordon County 4-H Agent by email at allie.griner@uga.edu or by phone at 706-629-8685 to discuss other ways to get involved. Additional Georgia 4-H opportunities can be found here: https://georgia4h.org/volunteer
Shooting Sports Team Coaches
Coach a competitive shooting sports team in one of the shooting disciplines offered in Georgia 4-H - archery, BB rifle, air pistol, air rifle, 22 rifle, and shotgun
Special Interest Club Leaders
Lead a club on a topic related to any special interest. Examples include photography, cooking, woodworking, STEM, creative writing, and many, many others.
Camp/Conference/Trip Chaperones
Transport and supervise youth at camps, conferences, and other day and overnight trips
Judging/Quiz Bowl Team Coaches
Coach a competitive team in one of the content areas offered in Georgia 4-H - consumer, dairy, forestry, horse, land, livestock poultry, wildlife, LifeSmarts
School Program Teachers
Provide in-school 4-H programming to grades 4-8, or in special circumstances or upon request of the school,, K-3 or 9-12
Food and Nutrition Specialists
Mentor youth in food preparation projects individually or as a club
Livestock Show Assistants
Gordon County 4-H hosts 8 livestock shows annually; assistants provide direct service in the hosting of these shows by way of announcing, line-up assistance, ring help, awards presentation, and concession stands assistance
Program Development Team Members
Advisory board for Gordon County 4-H; team of 8-15 members from across the community, including parents, volunteers, educators, public officials, and community members
Shooting Sports Team Coaches
- Description - coach a competitive shooting sports team in one of the shooting disciplines offered in Georgia 4-H - archery, BB rifle, air pistol, air rifle, .22 rifle, and shotgun
- Currently, there are no air pistol or air rifle teams, so these teams would be newly created; please discuss with the 4-H agent
- Key Responsibilities
- Teach youth the skills, behaviors, and attitudes necessary to practice safe shooting
- Lead practices
- Coach at competitive events
- Maintain club records, inventory, and budget
- Training
- Georgia 4-H provides an overnight SAFE Shooting Sports certification training at Rock Eagle
- Support
- New coaches would be a part of a group of coaches for each team; no volunteer would be the sole coach for the team, unless beginning a new team
- The 4-H agent will be available to answer any questions and provide oversight
- Georgia 4-H provides a wealth of resources on their website as well as a shooting sports specialist on the state staff
- Commitment
- Practice for shooting sports team is typically once a week over a several month period
- Each team has two 4-H competitions in which they participate, usually on Saturdays in the spring
- Additional practices or external competitions may be offered upon the coach’s discretion
- Skills and Qualifications
- Background and interest in safe shooting sports
- Do NOT have to be an expert marksman to become involved
Special Interest Club Leaders
- Description - lead a club on a topic related to any special interest. Examples include photography, cooking, woodworking, STEM, creative writing, and many, many others.
- Key Responsibilities
- Lead club meetings
- Provide youth with opportunities for mastery, independence, generosity, and belonging
- Maintain club records, inventory, and budget
- Training
- Georgia 4-H provides volunteer certification and the 4-H agent will provide necessary club leader training
- Support
- The 4-H agent will be available to answer any questions and provide oversight
- Georgia 4-H provides a wealth of resources on their website
- Commitment
- Club meeting schedule may be set at the discretion of the coach and 4-H agent, as well as availability of facility space
- Can be for a specified time period or ongoing, with as few or as many club meetings as the coach and 4-H agent establish
- Skills and Qualifications
- None required, but prior experience in education and/or the content area is beneficial
Camp/Conference/Trip Chaperones
- Description
- Supervise youth at camps, conferences, and other day and overnight trips
- Transportation of youth to and from event may be required, depending on the trip circumstances
- Key Responsibilities
- Provide supervision for Gordon County youth and others as assigned during the course of the trip
- Maintain administrative paperwork associated with the trip and provide documentation to 4-H agent at the conclusion of the trip
- As needed, transport youth in 14 passenger mini-bus to event
- Training
- Georgia 4-H provides volunteer certification and risk management training
- Support
- The 4-H agent will be available to answer any questions and provide oversight
- Georgia 4-H provides a wealth of resources on their website
- Commitment
- Duration of the specified camp, conference, or trip
- Skills and Qualifications
- None required, but prior experience in supervising youth is beneficial
Judging Team Coaches
- Description
- Coach a competitive team in one of the content areas offered in Georgia 4-H - consumer, dairy, forestry, horse, land, livestock poultry, wildlife
- Currently, there are no forestry, horse, or wildlife judging teams, so these teams would be newly created; please discuss with the 4-H agent
- Key Responsibilities
- Teach youth the skills, behaviors, and attitudes necessary to compete in evaluation contests
- Lead practices
- Coach at competitive events
- Maintain club records, inventory, and budget
- Training
- Georgia 4-H provides a day-long coach certification training for most judging teams
- Support
- New coaches would be a part of a group of coaches for each team; no volunteer would be the sole coach for the team, unless beginning a new team
- The 4-H agent will be available to answer any questions and provide oversight
- Georgia 4-H provides a wealth of resources on their website as well as a content area specialist on the state staff
- Commitment
- Practice for judging team is typically once a week over a several month period
- Each team has a state 4-H competitions in which they participate, usually on Saturdays, and consumer, forestry, and poultry each have an area qualifying competition prior to the state competition
- Additional practices or external competitions may be offered upon the coach’s discretion
- Skills and Qualifications
- None required, but prior experience in education, judging teams, and/or the content area is beneficial
School Program Teachers
- Description
- Provide in-school 4-H programming to grades 4-8, or in special circumstances or upon request of the school,, K-3 or 9-12
- Key Responsibilities
- Teach a standards-based educational lessons at a public school/grade level of your choice
- Training
- The Gordon County 4-H agent will supply the curriculum and train the volunteer in its use
- Volunteer may also choose to view a demonstration of the lesson by a 4-H staff member, either at the 4-H office or in a classroom
- Support
- Curriculum and supplies will be provided at least a month in advance of the date of the lesson and the 4-H agent will be available to answer any questions about the lesson
- Commitment
- One hour per month per classroom in which you teach
- Depending on the school, there may be multiple classrooms of the same grade level, and you will teach the same lesson once for each classroom
- Lessons will take place at the school
- Skills and Qualifications
- None required, but prior experience in education is beneficial
Food and Nutrition Specialists
- Description
- Mentor youth in food preparation projects
- This mentoring can be in an individual or group (club) setting
- Key Responsibilities
- Educate youth on food safety, nutrition, and food preparation techniques
- Train youth on the application of the learned knowledge/skills in a practical setting
- Training
- Georgia 4-H offers a 5 module Foods and Nutrition certification training
- Support
- County Extension Agent will be available to answer questions and provide oversight
- Georgia 4-H provides a wealth of resources on their website as well as a healthy living specialist on the state staff
- Commitment
- Time commitment is up to mentor availablity and youth need
- Mentoring can take place at the Gordon County Extension/4-H Office or at another location approved by the Gordon County 4-H Agent
- Skills and Qualifications
- None required, but knowledge/experience in food safety, nutrition, or food preparation is beneficial
Livestock Show Assistants
- Description
- Gordon County 4-H hosts 8 livestock shows annually
- Assistants provide direct service in the hosting of these shows by way of announcing, line-up assistance, ring help, awards presentation, and concession stands assistance
- Key Responsibilities
- Announcer - speaks on the microphone for front of barn and back of barn, announces upcoming classes, class placings, sponsors, etc.
- Line-up assistance - lines exhibitors up in order in the back of the barn for entry into the show ring
- Ring help - assists exhibitors in the ring to line up as judge indicates
- Awards presentation - hands out awards to exhibitors as they exit the show ring
- Concession stand assistance - assists in concession stand with cooking, selling items, and clean-up
- Training
- 4-H Agent and Program Assistant will provide on-site training for responsibilities of each
- Support
- 4-H Agent and Program Assistant will be available at all shows to answer questions and provide oversight
- Commitment
- Multiple, episodic events throughout the year, typically the first weekend in August, the week of the Northwest Georgia Regional Fair in September, and the third weekend in December
- Each show lasts between 6-10 hours, but volunteers can sign up for a shift within that time frame
- Shows will be held in Gordon County, either at the Northwest Georgia Livestock Pavilion or the Northwest Georgia Regional Fairgrounds
- Skills and Qualifications
- None required, but knowledge/experience with livestock and/or livestock shows is beneficial
Program Development Team Members
- Description
- Advisory board for Gordon County 4-H
- Team of 8-15 members from across the community, including parents, volunteers, educators, public officials, and community members
- Key Responsibilities
- Provide feedback on our current Gordon County 4-H programs
- Offer ideas to enhance program in new and innovative ways
- Training
- New Program Development Team members will have a face-to-face meeting with the 4-H agent to review current team discussions and receive minutes of the past year’s meetings to be prepared for participation in their first meeting
- Support
- 4-H agent provides agendas in advance of each meeting, as well as email reminders of the meetings
- Minutes of the meeting are distributed via email in the week following the meeting
- Commitment
- 3 meetings a year; one each in August, January, and April
- Each meeting lasts approximately 1.5 hours for a total time commitment of 5 hours
- Skills and Qualifications
- None required except interest in improving the Gordon County 4-H program
