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Youth Positions

If you’re looking for an opportunity to build your leadership skills and have a positive influence on other youth as well as your community, look no further than our 4-H Youth Positions!

Become a Member

Are you looking for an enthusiastic person to support your event? Or maybe a youth perspective on the value of the 4-H person? Then you will want to request a 4-H Ontario Ambassador!

Complete the request form at the link below and you could have one of the amazing 2024 4-H Ontario Ambassadors at your (in-person or virtual) event!

Request a 2024 4-H Ontario Ambassador for your event! 

Thank you to our sponsor, FS, for their ongoing support and leadership of the Ambassador Program.

FS logo

 

For current 4-H youth ages 18-21

For over 15 years, the 4-H Ontario ambassador program has provided 4-H Ontario participants with advanced training in leadership, citizenship, communication and public relations. 4-H Ontario ambassadors channel their energy and 4-H experiences into sharing the 4-H story. This can include the ambassador Instagram feed, sharing skills they have learned through 4-H via videos, creating blog posts, attending virtual and/or in-person events, and more! Up to six current 4-H participants between the ages of 18–21 are selected each year to represent 4-H Ontario as 4-H Ontario ambassadors.

Ambassadors manage busy schedules to achieve their goals – including schooling, work, 4-H and personal commitments. 4-H Ontario recognizes the tremendous impact ambassadors have in the program and 2024 4-H Ontario ambassadors will be eligible to apply for a scholarship to support post-secondary education thanks to the support of the Walker Wood Foundation. More details about this scholarship will be provided to the 2024 4-H Ontario ambassadors upon selection.

The 2023 4-H Ontario Ambassadors Are:

Rhiannah Gallagher (Carleton)

Hayley Ashton (Durham-West)

Joyce Lyn Fox (Haldimand)

Rachel Gras (Huron)

Autumn McIntyre (Renfrew)

Request a 2024 4-H Ontario Ambassador for your event! 

Thank you to our sponsor, FS, for their ongoing support and leadership of the Ambassador Program.

FS logo

For current 4-H youth ages 18-21 

This exciting senior youth position brings the views of 4-H Ontario youth to the Canadian 4-H Council Youth Advisory Committee (YAC).

Information on availability for 2025 will be posted on this page in the Fall of 2024.

The YAC consists of four groups, each with a different purpose and role. YAC members get to take part in the planning and execution of various programs and initiatives while gaining valuable experience within 4-H Canada operations.

Meetings are held via teleconference with one in-person meeting at the 4-H Canada Leadership Summit (generally held in April). Other travel may be required.

To apply, you must be an active 4-H participant in good standing between the ages of 18-21 at the time of application. The length of term (appointment) is two years, and applications for the 2024-2025 term will be accepted until December 15, 2023.

“I’ve had an amazing experience working with people from across Canada celebrating 4-H Canada’s 100th Anniversary while being the YAC Ontario Representative. This position has taught me strong leadership and networking skills. Being the youth voice at the national level – from small-town Ontario – is a very rewarding experience.”

– Valerie Stone, Previous YAC Representative

Roles and Responsibilities – 4-H Ontario

  • Understand what the 4-H Ontario program does in practice
  • Understand what the current 4-H delivery model involves and how it’s implemented in local 4-H Ontario Associations
  • Provide loyal support of the 4-H program and adhere to all bylaws, policies and procedures
  • Bring the views and issues of 4-H Ontario youth to 4-H Canada YAC discussions
  • Liaise with the Ontario 4-H Council Director – Youth to develop Ontario-based responses
  • Provide a written report two weeks prior to the Ontario 4-H Council scheduled meetings, outlining the activities of the Canadian 4-H Council YAC and noting the Ontario-based issues brought to that Committee
  • Attend and participate in the 4-H Ontario Conference and Annual Meeting, incuding the Ontario 4-H Council Annual General Meeting (4-H Ontario will cover registration costs for the conference and annual meeting)
  • Attend the Board governance training offered by the Ontario 4-H Council prior to the first full Ontario 4-H Council Board of Directors meeting (or make alternate training arrangements)

Roles and Responsibilities – 4-H Canada

  • Attend 4-6 meetings per year (virtual and in-person)
  • Participate in one networking group per year
  • Demonstrate knowledge of 4-H Canada and 4-H locally
  • Show interest in public speaking, group facilitation and being a team player
  • Travel and participation in two events a year, coordinated by 4-H Canada (TBD)
  • Assist 4-H Canada staff in planning and facilitating the National Leaders Conference
  • Represent 4-H Canada at various events and promote National programs and opportunities
  • Act in an advisory capacity to 4-H Canada staff on the development of youth friendly programs, resources and materials (such as videos, brochures, program guides)
  • Be a positive role model
  • For more information, please visit https://4-h-canada.ca/yac

Application Form

For current 4-H youth ages 18-21

The Director – Youth on the Ontario 4-H Council Board of Directors brings the views and issues of 4-H Members to Ontario 4-H Council Board discussions.

Application deadline for the Ontario 4-H Council Director – Youth is December 15, 2023.

The Director – Youth provides input into governance issues during board meetings. Meetings will be held both virtually and in-person.

This holder of this position also helps manage the strategic development of the 4-H Ontario program which includes financial oversight, development of governance policies and the 4-H Ontario strategic plan.

To apply, you must be an active 4-H participant in good standing between the ages of 18-21 at the time of appointment by the Board of Directors. The length of term (appointment) will be one year, which will expire at the completion of the Ontario 4-H Council Annual General Meeting. The Director – Youth can be reappointed but may not exceed three consecutive terms.

Complete the Application Form here.

“Being the Director – Youth has provided the opportunities to praise and promote the value of 4-H Ontario to its Members and Volunteers.”

– Cassandra Chornoboy, Previous Director – Youth


“The Director – Youth position is an opportunity to learn about the 4-H program from the inside. You sit at a table with Volunteers who have different perspectives and experiences, but at the end of the day you are one united voice that is directing the 4-H program. Even though I might have been the youngest person at the board table, my input was valued the same as anyone else’s.”

– Carolyn Cober, Previous Director – Youth

For more information, please contact:

standards@4-hontario.ca

For current 4-H youth of all ages 

Youth Facilitators ensure the inclusion of all participants and help create an environment where participants are able to contribute their opinions for personal growth. 

Youth Facilitators support the role of Facilitator in the staff team and are preferred to be at least four years older than the oldest participant attending the activity.

The time commitment varies per opportunity. Typically, Youth Facilitators are asked to arrive prior to the delegates on the first day and leave shortly after the delegates on the last day.

We also ask that you’re available for opportunity-specific training (an hour to full day depending on the opportunity), as well as a wrap-up teleconference call for approximately one hour.

For more information, please contact:
programming@4-hontario.ca

For Senior 4-H Members

Youth Leaders and Directors are senior 4-H Members who take on additional responsibilities within a club project. Leadership, communication, teamwork and mentorship are all key pieces to youth leadership in 4-H.

An updated Club Youth Leader project book as well as an Association Youth Director project book will be available to Youth Leaders for you to use to complete those projects. Training will be required every two years for members completing a Youth Leader or Youth Director project.

Each project is eligible to have one youth leader for every six participants in the project and youth leaders receive an extra project completion for their hard work, along with eligibility for the Youth Leader Award, sponsored by Kubota. Youth leader engagement focuses on presentation skills and leadership styles. Club youth leaders who have never participated in a youth leader orientation session before must participate in this learning opportunity via live webinar or self-directed web-based session and are encouraged to do so prior to engaging in the youth leader project.

Youth Leaders

Youth Leader Handbook

Club Youth Leaders must be 15-21 years old prior to January 1st of the current calendar year and actively engaged in the project for which they are a Youth Leader.

All Youth Leaders must attend a Youth Leader webinar. Registration must be submitted at least one week in advance. Additional webinars will be added as required. There must be a minimum of six participants for the webinar to run. In order to ensure full engagement by participants, there is a maximum of 20 participants registered for each session.

Youth interested in participating in a webinar can register for a session below

New Youth Leader Orientation Webinar Registration

Dates for 2024 Youth Leader Training Webinars:
These sessions will run from 7-8 p.m. (EST)

Tuesday, February 6, 2024. Register by January 30
Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Register by March 3
Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Register by March 26
Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Register by April 24

Self-Directed Youth Leader Orientation

Youth Leaders may now complete their orientation via the self-directed module from the comfort of home at their leisure.

Click to complete the self-directed Youth Leader Orientation.

The Youth Leader program is proudly sponsored by Kubota. Re-engagement training can be completed by participating in Provincial 4-H Leadership Camp, Future Leaders In Action or taking a Youth Leader webinar module.

Kubota Logo

Youth Leader Re-Engagement

Club youth leaders who have previously completed the youth leader orientation are asked to re-engage through participation in a learning opportunity every three years.

In 2024, they will have three options to choose from for re-engagement of their training:

  • Participation in a web-based self-directed learning module
  • Attendance at a local 4-H association annual general meeting staff-led re-engagement learning opportunity. (Check with your local 4-H association or volunteer support coordinator)
  • Participation at designated provincial 4-H opportunities as confirmed by Manager, Youth Experience.

It is important to note that all aspects of the youth leader project must be completed to the satisfaction of the local 4-H association in order to receive completion credit.

Youth Directors

Youth Directors must be active 4-H Members between the ages of 18-21 prior to January 1st of the current calendar year.

Youth Directors work on association initiatives with a 4-H association and each association is eligible to have two youth directors complete this project. They are required to be active 4-H youth who are at least 18 and not more than 21 years of age at the time they are elected to the board of directors. Youth director engagement focuses on governance, policy and board basics. New youth directors must attend a new volunteer orientation webinar.

Re-engaging youth directors must attend and participate in a re-engagement learning opportunity every three years, as outlined below.

  • Attendance at a local 4-H association annual general meeting staff-led re-engagement learning opportunity. (Check with your local 4-H association or volunteer support coordinator).
  • Participation in a live e-symposium via webinar.
  • Taking in a local association-requested learning opportunity on a topic of interest to volunteers in that 4-H association, as requested by the local 4-H association board of directors and led by local volunteer support staff.
  • Attendance at a live web-based regional town hall event.
  • Completion of a web-based self-directed learning opportunity. 4-H youth are asked to complete their required orientation or re-engagement prior to engaging in this element of the 4-H program for maximum benefit and learning. For information regarding the number of club youth leaders or youth directors that can get credit in your program, check the 4-H website, policies and forms, 4.2.1, O-M-11.

Youth Director Handbook

For more information on Youth Leader and Youth Director positions, please contact:
programming@4-hontario.ca

4-H youth play just as big of a role in the club as volunteers! Learn about the various club positions you can take on.

Club President

Club Vice President

Club Treasurer

News/Press Reporter

Secretary