Enrollment

The 4-H year is from July 1 to June 30.

You can enroll in 4-H year-round!*

*Some projects may have an enrollment deadline, but you can still join 4-H and participate in other 4-H activities. Please check with your county 4-H staff for more information.

ZSuite online enrollment for 4-H

ZSuite is the official online enrollment platform for California 4-H. The Primary Profile manages a family's Household Profile in ZSuite. Only individuals who are enrolling 4-H need to be added to ZSuite. Parents/guardians don't need a profile in ZSuite unless they plan to register as a 4-H volunteer.

Please see the tutorial videos and help sheets below to enroll through ZSuite.

For Families: Enrolling Youth Online

For Volunteers: Enrolling Online

4h.zsuite.org

NOTE: Use Firefox or Chrome browsers to access the ZSuite system. ZSuite-linked forms are not accessible on Safari.

Getting Started in ZSuite

Registering a new Household account in ZSuite

Only families who are new to California 4-H or were enrolled prior to 2019 must sign up to register a new Household account in ZSuite. If you were enrolled in California 4-H after 2019 you already have a Household account - please do not create a new one!

Please see the short video (1:53) on how to create a new Household account and set a PIN and password.

The Primary Profile requires the entry of the Household PIN. Only adults should have the PIN to add a Household Member to join 4-H. The Household account password can be shared with the other members of the Household to log in to ZSuite, but only adults should have the PIN to access the enrollment process.

Adding a Household Member to enroll in 4-H

Only the Primary Profile with the PIN can create a new Household Member to join 4-H. Please see the short video (2:55) on how to add a Household Member.

A Household Member can be a youth or adult. Their role as a 4-H member or volunteer is determined by their birth year. 4-H members are ages 5 to 18 by December 31 of the 4-H year.

Your 4-H age is your age as of December 31 in the 4-H year.

Primary - ages 5 to 8
Junior - ages 9 to 10
Intermediate - ages 11 to 13
Senior - ages 14 to 18

4-H adult volunteers are ages 18 and up.

Need help?

Please see our Troubleshooting section below. You may also contact your county 4-H office for help with ZSuite.

Enrolling in ZSuite

4-H Members and Volunteers must re-enroll each 4-H year.

The 4-H program year is July 1 to June 30. We encourage you to re-enroll as soon as the system opens for self-enrollment so you can continue to participate in 4-H activities. Please note that your enrollment must be set to Active status before you can participate.

Enrolling a Youth Member

A household member's role as a 4-H member or volunteer is determined by their birth year. 4-H members are ages 5 to 18 by December 31 of the 4-H year. A member's 4-H age is their age as of December 31 in the 4-H year.

Primary - ages 5 to 8
Junior - ages 9 to 10
Intermediate - ages 11 to 13
Senior - ages 14 to 18

See the step-by-step video (8:09)* to enroll a household member in 4-H. Only the the household adult with the PIN can enroll a household member.

*Due to the continual development of ZSuite, the system may appear slightly different in the video than the current system.

Enrolling an Adult Volunteer

A household member's role as a 4-H member or volunteer is determined by their birth year. 4-H adult volunteers must be 18 or older by December 31 of the 4-H year. See the step-by-step video (5:53)* to enroll a household member as an Adult Volunteer in ZSuite. Only the the household adult with the PIN can enroll a household member.

*Due to the continual development of ZSuite, the system may appear slightly different in the video than the current system.

Important: Adult Volunteer enrollment is not complete until the volunteer has the approved background clearance (new volunteers) and the required Volunteer Courses in Campus are completed. Go to the Learning Center to learn more about the Campus courses for both new and returning volunteers.

Active Status

Enrollment is not complete until it has been approved by your county 4-H office and it has been set to Active status in ZSuite.

Member enrollment is not set to Active status until:

The enrollment and waiver forms are completed and submitted.
Enrollment fees are received by the county 4-H office.

Adult Volunteer enrollment is not set to Active status until:

- The enrollment and waiver forms are completed and submitted.
- Enrollment fees are received and recorded by the county 4-H office.
- All required courses in the Campus learning management system are completed. (see Learning Center for more information)

In addition to the above, new adult volunteers must complete the following background clearance information:

- Volunteer Interest Survey is completed and reviewed.
- FBI/DOJ Fingerprinting and Background Clearance is obtained and approved.

Please allow several business days for approval.

4-H members and volunteers must be Active Status to participate in 4-H activities.

Activities in the 4-H year includes 4-H meetings, projects and events held from July 1 to June 30.

What if my project or event ends after July 1?

Members and volunteers who are completing a project from the previous 4-H year have until December to complete their project without re-enrolling in the new 4-H year. Please note, however, that they may not participate in any new 4-H activities after July 1 unless they re-enroll.

Troubleshooting

If you don't see your issue here, please contact your county 4-H representative for help and support.

Forgot Account Password & PIN

This video demonstrates how to reset your Household account password and PIN.

Error: Cannot Sign Up

New account attempt by returning families

If you were active in 4-H between 2019 and 2023, the 4hOnline account associated with your email was moved to ZSuite as a Household account. You cannot create a duplicate Household account. The system will make you reset your old password. Watch the short video (2:02) to learn the step-by-step process.

Changes to an Enrollment

Only for enrollments that have not been made active yet

You can make changes to an enrollment in ZSuite only if it has NOT been made active yet. After an enrollment is active you will not be able to make changes - please contact your county 4-H contact for support.

ZSuite Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Unit or Project?

You can make changes to an enrollment in ZSuite only if it has NOT been made active yet. If your enrollment is Active, please contact your local 4-H office to make changes to Units or Projects.

What areas of an Active enrollment can families update?

Families can update the PERSONAL INFO section of an Active enrollment. This includes Preferred Name, Member/Volunteer Phone & email, demographic information (Gender, Ethnicity, Race & Place of Residence) grade, parent/guardian, military service, and household assistance information.

Updating Household Account & Profile Information Helpsheet (PDF) 12.3.24
Updating Health History Information Helpsheet (PDF) , updated 7.15.25

What do I have to update in the Health History information?

When changes in health occur, families should update the Health History Information in the enrollment system. This may include changes in allergies, medications, conditions, or other emotional or behavioral conditions. Additionally, families may be requested to update the vaccination information before overnight events such as camps or excursions.

Updating Health History Information Helpsheet (PDF) , updated 7.15.25

Why would I need to download and provide my own member health form?

A common reason a member would be asked to supply their health form would be to participate in 4-H activities in a county other than their primary county. Other reasons could include providing the form at the request of project or unit volunteers or county staff.

Download Health Form Helpsheet, 7.14.25 (PDF)

Can I do a paper enrollment instead of ZSuite?

Yes, we have paper enrollment packets for people who have limited internet access, or need information in Spanish (ZSuite is not available in Spanish at this time). Please contact your county 4-H office to get a paper enrollment packet. The paper enrollment forms in English and Spanish mirror the fields and information required in ZSuite.

If you use the paper enrollment packet, please note the following changes to the enrollment process:

For Youth Member enrollment, submit the following signed forms with your enrollment fee. Please keep all other forms in the enrollment packet for your reference.
1. 4-H Youth Member Enrollment Form with signatures
2. Youth Treatment Authorization/Medical Release & Health History Form
3. Parent Consent for 4-H Online Evaluation and Research Surveys (if member 4-H age is 9 or older)
4. Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement
5. Enrollment Acknowledgement
For Adult Volunteer enrollment, submit the following signed forms with your enrollment fee. Please keep all other forms in the enrollment packet for your reference.
1. 4-H Adult Volunteer Application Form with signatures
2. Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement
3. Enrollment Acknowledgement
4. Confidential Self-Disclosure must be placed in a sealed and signed envelope and given to your local county 4-H office.
Your County 4-H staff person will use the submitted enrollment forms to create a Household profile in ZSuite and enroll Youth Members and Adult Volunteers.

Enrollments remain Pending until the county 4-H staff confirms the receipt of signed enrollment forms and enrollment fees and that Adult Volunteers pass security screening and complete required courses. (See Active Status above).