2016/17 New Volunteer Training Preparation Guide

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Working together to strengthen volunteers’ orientation and training process, Iowa 4-H can anticipate volunteers well prepared to help Iowa youth become productive citizens, outstanding communicators, effective leaders, and successful learners. 4-H volunteers committing to a long term experience working with 4-H youth as club, project, Clover Kids – both leaders and assistants - are required to attend a regional new volunteer training within the first 12 months of being screened and approved as a 4-H volunteer. Regional face-to-face new volunteer training provides volunteers the positive youth development knowledge and skills needed to be more confident and capable in their roles working with youth. Staff, experienced or “newer” leaders who haven’t attended a new volunteer training are encouraged to attend as well to strengthen their positive youth development knowledge and skills.


Training Goals

·  Reiterate to participants the 4-H Equation

·  Continue to build positive youth development knowledge and skills focusing on youth-adult partnerships

·  Introduce Experiential Learning process

·  Provide tools and resources to assist volunteers working with youth

·  Allow opportunity for sharing of ideas and questions

·  Provide specific information and training respective to club/group management

Staff Checklist

September 1 – identify locations for New Volunteer training for the year

ü  Market dates and locations of training

2 months prior to training (or earlier):

ü  Assemble staff team to present training

ü  Market dates and locations of training

ü  Work with county teams to make sure notebooks are being printed

ü  Work with county teams to recruit and register new volunteers

ü  Monitor registrations on JotForms site; compare registrations with new volunteer applications that counties are processing

ü  Determine supply needs for training

2 weeks prior to training:

ü  Prepare message to send to registered participants via email (location, what to expect of the day, etc.)

ü  Monitor registrations on JotForms site

1 week prior to training:

ü  Gather supplies

ü  Copy handouts

ü  Send message to participants via email about location, etc. Ask them to respond if they are not attending so supply amounts can be adjusted

ü  Make snack decisions


Training day:

ü  Set up large training room

ü  Sign-in sheet & name tags for participants (if not using table tent activity)

ü  Collect email addresses of walk ins

1 week following training:

ü  Confirm names of attendees with Shelly Ramus ()

ü  Utilize post-training external news release

ü  Send names of training participants to each participating county so they can enter their participation into 4-H Online

Training Supplies:

ü  Sign in sheet, name tags, pen, markers

ü  Flip chart & markers (or white board)

ü  Computers & LCD projectors as needed for main session and breakouts

ü  4-H Equation poster

ü  Experiential Learning Model poster

ü  Door prize, slips of paper to write names, container to draw form. (optional)

ü  Iowa State University identification (banners, poster, or logo, etc.)

ü  Refreshments and snacks (if applicable)

Training Handouts (see http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/volmgt )

ü  Sign in Sheet

ü  Goal statements – cut up

ü  Behavior management scenarios and worksheets

ü  Club planning worksheets

ü  Experiential Learning keychains

ü  Evaluations

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