Volunteer with us. You'll be in great company!

In 2023 CCE community volunteers donated 9,899 hours of time in Putnam County NY, reaching 3,659 adult and 1291 youth residents. Volunteers are the backbone of the work that Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam County does in the community. Please consider sharing your time and talents with us through the volunteer opportunities listed below. We follow the volunteer procedures set forth by Cornell University.

Interested in becoming a Volunteer? Please CLICK HERE!

Master Gardener Volunteers

 The Master Gardener program, offered throughout the U.S. and Canada, provides avid gardeners with many hours of intensive home horticulture training. In return, they share their knowledge and enthusiasm for gardening with others by volunteering to assist with garden lectures, exhibits, demonstrations, school and community gardening, phone diagnostic service, research, and many other projects. Learn more about becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer.

4-H Club Leaders

Become a 4-H Club Leader, 4-H STEP Club Leader or Parent Volunteer:

4-H volunteer leaders are the core group of every successful 4-H program! As a 4-H volunteer, you play a key role in helping young people grow as individuals, acquire new knowledge and skills, and become active members of their communities. You will gain personal satisfaction and pride in knowing you have contributed significantly to the personal development of youth.

All potential adult 4-H volunteers must go through our screening process and take part in an 4-H Orientation & Training Session. For additional information, please contact Brandy Keenan, 4-H Youth & Development Program Educator, at bmk98@cornell.edu.

Agriculture Literacy Week

Every year we dedicate one week in the Spring to read to elementary school students about the importance of agriculture! Our volunteers participate in school districts and classrooms all throughout the county. Click here to learn more about this program and reach out to us if you're interested in this special opportunity!

Youth Volunteer

This position is for teen 4-H members with an interest in leadership development within the 4-H program. Opportunities include, but are not limited to, mentoring younger 4-H members, serving on the 4-H committees, volunteering at Putnam County Fair. Developing leadership and fostering responsibility are two fundamental components of this position.

Food System Volunteers

A community food system integrates sustainable food production, processing, distribution, consumption, waste management and creates opportunities to access local foods. Most importantly, building community food systems means serving residents most impacted by current inequities in the creation of new, more community oriented, self-reliant food system.

In the upcoming season, we will need help delivering produce from local farms and meals throughout locations across the county. If this sounds like something you’re interested in helping with, please fill out the interest form by clicking HERE. Make sure to check "Food Systems" as a selection.

Last updated August 12, 2024