Tips and tricks to help you develop a research-based training plan for your 4-H Volunteers!

Tips and tricks to help you develop a research-based training plan for your 4-H Volunteers!

Training that helps volunteers reach their goals and provide high-quality experiences within their role is a foundational element of Volunteer Involvement across our CCE System (VIPP). Throughout the year, we’ll continue to feature bite-sized, grab-and-go resources you can easily add to your 4-H Program toolbox. Each lesson is designed to strengthen volunteer skills, spark creativity, and inspire meaningful partnerships that make your 4-H programs shine!

Today’s Highlight: Practicing Youth and Adult Partnerships—Building Stronger Connections Together

Successful youth and adult partnerships go beyond shared responsibilities—they’re built on trust, communication, and mutual respect. When both youth and adults are empowered to lead, learn, and contribute, programs flourish with creativity, inclusivity, and shared ownership.

The Practicing Youth and Adult Partnerships lesson explores what makes these collaborations truly effective. Volunteers will discover strategies to inspire youth through both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, while learning how to foster access, equity, and belonging across diverse settings. This session provides practical tools to help create safe, empowering spaces where youth and adults can thrive together.

The Practicing Youth and Adult Partnerships Activities, along with Fact Sheets and PowerPoint Slides for the Positive Youth Development domain, can be found on the National Volunteerism Resource Hub —a project of the PLWG National 4-H Volunteerism Charter Group designed to house resources that strengthen the preparation, engagement, and development of 4-H volunteers nationwide.

These resources are based on the Volunteer Research Knowledge and Competency (VRKC) Taxonomy Model—a research-backed guide that maps out the key skills needed for volunteers to thrive in 4-H. From communication and organization to program management, educational design, and positive youth development, each skill area helps volunteers bring out the best in every young person they serve!

Questions? Reach out to Kelly Campbell (kmc86@cornell.edu )