The Nebraska 4-H Diamond Clover program encourages 4-H youth to engage in a variety of programs, projects, and activities that will enable youth to acquire skills and abilities that will prepare them for success in the future. The program is designed to reach and recognize all youth engaged in 4-H, from club members and campers to school enrichment, afterschool, and special interest program participants.
The program consists of six levels that require a young person to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments. For each level, the Nebraska 4-H Diamond Clover program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H youth choose their goals. The accomplishments increase in quantity and difficulty for each level. At the beginning of the 4-H year, participants plan what to accomplish and at the end of the 4-H year, they report on their completed accomplishments. Successful completion of a level's Plan & Report form results in a 4-H youth earning that level of the Diamond Clover program.
Diamond Clover Levels
Level 1 - Amethyst
Anticipated Age: 8-9*
Diamond Clover Level 1 Plan & Report Form:
Accomplish at least 3 of the following in a 4-H year:
- Learn the 4-H pledge, motto, and colors
- Attend a 4-H camp
- Attend a 4-H afterschool program
- Participate in a 4-H school enrichment program
- Participate as a member of a 4-H club
- Attend at least one local 4-H workshop or event (i.e. educational program, contest, county fair, etc.)
- Meet two new people
- Try one new thing
- Share your experience with a friend
- Complete and submit a 4-H Achievement Application
- Bring a friend to a 4-H meeting or activity
- Other appropriate for Level 1
*Suggested ages are recommendations, not required guidelines.
Level 2 - Aquamarine
Anticipated Age: 10-11*Diamond Clover Level 2 Plan & Report Form:
Accomplish at least 4 of the following in a 4-H year:
- Attend a 4-H camp
- Attend a 4-H afterschool program
- Participate in a 4-H school enrichment program
- Participate as a member of a 4-H club
- Compete in a local 4-H contest
- Participate in at least two local 4-H workshops or events (i.e. county educational programs, county fair, county contest, etc.)
- Participate in a service learning project
- Assist with a 4-H promotion (i.e. parade float, classroom visits, carnival booth, thank you to "Friends of 4-H," decorate windows for 4-H week/month, etc.)
- Complete a 4-H Achievement Application
- Recruit a new 4-H member or participant
- Other appropriate for Level 2
*Suggested ages are recommendations, not required guidelines.
Level 3 - Ruby
Anticipated Age: 12-13*
Diamond Clover Level 3 Plan and Report Form:
Accomplish at least 5 of the following in a 4-H year:
- Attend a 4-H camp
- Attend a 4-H afterschool program
- Participate in a 4-H school enrichment program
- Participate as a member of a 4-H club
- Participate in at least two local 4-H activities or events (i.e. county education program, county fair, county contest, etc.)
- Participate in a service learning project
- Assist with a 4-H promotion (i.e. parade float, classroom visits, carnival booth, thank you to "Friends of 4-H," decorate windows for 4-H week/month, etc.)
- Participate in a 4-H communications activity (i.e. speech, oral reasons, presentation, radio marketing, social media series, blog, video development, write a story for the paper, etc.)
- Attend at least one regional, district, or state 4-H event (i.e. PASE, Life Challenge, State Fair, etc.)
- Complete at least one 4-H project from a new project area
- Complete a 4-H Achievement Application
- Recruit a new 4-H member
- Other appropriate for Level 3
*Suggested ages are recommendations, not required guidelines.
Level 4 - Sapphire
Anticipated Age: 14-15*
Diamond Clover Level 4 Plan and Report Form:
Accomplish at least 6 of the following in a 4-H year:
- Attend a 4-H camp
- Attend a 4-H afterschool program
- Participate in a 4-H school enrichment program
- Participate as a member of a 4-H club
- Participate in at least three county 4-H activities or events (i.e. county educational program, county fair, county contest, etc.)
- Participate in a service learning project
- Provide leadership for a service learning project
- Assist with a 4-H promotion (i.e. parade float, classroom visits, carnival booth, thank you to "Friends of 4-H," decorate windows for 4-H week/month, etc.)
- Participate in a 4-H communications activity (i.e. speech, oral reasons, presentation, radio marketing, social media series, blog, video development, write a story for the paper, etc.)
- Serve in a leadership role (4-H club officer, classroom teen teacher, mentor, ambassador, etc.)
- Serve as a volunteer at a 4-H event
- Attend at least one district, state or regional 4-H event (i.e. PASE, Life Challenge, State Fair, etc.)
- Help a younger member with their project, presentation, or learning the 4-H pledge
- Complete at least one 4-H project from a new project area
- Complete a 4-H Achievement Application
- Complete a career exploration activity
- Recruit a new 4-H member
- Other appropriate for Level 4
*Suggested ages are recommendations, not required guidelines.
Level 5 - Emerald
Anticipated Age: 15-17*
Diamond Clover Level 5 Plan and Report Form:
Accomplish at least 7 of the following in a 4-H year:
- Attend a 4-H camp
- Attend a 4-H afterschool program
- Participate in a 4-H school enrichment program
- Participate as a member of a 4-H club
- Participate in at least four county 4-H activities or events (i.e. county educational program, county fair, county contest, etc.)
- Provide leadership for a service learning project
- Provide leadership for a club or community service learning project
- Serve in a leadership role (4-H club officer, classroom teen teacher, mentor, ambassador, etc.)
- Assist with a 4-H promotion (i.e. parade float, classroom visits, carnival booth, thank you to "Friends of 4-H," decorate windows for 4-H week/month, etc.)
- Organize a 4-H promotion activity (i.e. achievement presentation, afterschool workshop, be Lil' Green at a community event, host an appreciation open house, etc.)
- Provide leadership for a 4-H educational program, activity, or event
- Participate in a 4-H communications activity (i.e. speech, oral reasons, presentation, radio marketing, social media series, blog, video development, write a story for the paper, etc.)
- Attend at least one state 4-H event
- Help a younger member with a project, exhibit, presentation, etc.
- Serve as a county or state 4-H camp counselor
- Complete at least one 4-H project from a new project area
- Complete a 4-H Annual Achievement Application
- Complete a career exploration activity
- Recruit a new 4-H member
- Other appropriate for Level 5
*Suggested ages are recommendations, not required guidelines.
Level 6 - Diamond
Anticipated Age: 16 & up*
Diamond Clover Level 6 Plan and Report Form:
Accomplish at least 8 of the following:
- Attend a 4-H camp
- Attend a 4-H afterschool program
- Participate in a 4-H school enrichment project
- Participate as a member of a 4-H club
- Participate in at least five county 4-H activities or events (i.e. county educational program, county fair, county contest, etc.)
- Serve in a leadership role (i.e. 4-H club officer, classroom teen teacher, mentor, ambassador, etc.)
- Coordinate a 4-H activity (i.e. 4-H mini fair/parade, multi-county junior leader, project workshop, afterschool experience, camp event, etc.)
- Assist with a 4-H promotion (i.e. parade float, classroom visits, carnival booth, thank you to "Friends of 4-H," decorate windows for 4-H week/month, etc.)
- Organize a 4-H promotion activity (i.e. achievement presentation, afterschool workshop, be Lil' Green at a community event, host an appreciation open house, etc.)
- Participate in a 4-H communications activity (i.e. speech, oral reasons, radio marketing, social media series, blog, video development, story for the paper, etc.)
- Attend at least one state, regional, or national 4-H event
- Help a younger member with an activity, project, exhibit, presentation, etc.
- Attend a 4-H experience outside of your core delivery mode (club event, camp, afterschool program, school enrichment experience)
- Serve as a county or state 4-H camp counselor or program assistant
- Complete at least one new 4-H project or activity
- Complete your 4-H achievement application for the year
- Complete a career exploration activity
- Serve on a district, state, or national advisory board or committee
- Help organize a new 4-H club, camp, school enrichment program, or afterschool program
- Other appropriate for Level 6
*Suggested ages are recommendations, not required guidelines.
Note: The service-learning project that was previously required for the Diamond Clover Level 6 is now a separate program opportunity called Nebraska 4-H Gives Back. It is no longer necessary to complete a service learning project for Diamond Clover recognition.
Youth who have already received approval for their Diamond Clover Level 6 Service Learning Project may use the old Level 6 Part 2 Report Form (PDF|Doc) to report on the completion of their project and receive the Diamond Level recognition.
Eligibility
The Diamond Clover program is available for any 4-H youth ages 8-18. Youth do not need to be enrolled 4-H members in order to participate in the Diamond Clover program. Youth may be engaged in any 4-H program or delivery mode, including clubs, camps, school enrichment, afterschool, special interest, and independent membership. The accomplishments for each level have been created to enable any 4-H youth, no matter how they are involved in 4-H, to be successful. Parents/guardians, leaders, and Extension staff may suggest other accomplishments — comparable to those provided — to improve the individual learning experience of each 4-H youth.
Rules
- Youth may only receive recognition at each level once.
- Youth may only receive one level of recognition per year.
- Youth should begin at Level 1 and progress through Level 6. However, youth who are older when beginning may opt to start at a higher level (2-4) as is mutually agreeable to the participant and the parent/guardian or leader. In order for older youth to begin at level 5 or 6, the Extension staff must also be in agreement.
- While it is encouraged, it is not required that youth complete a 4-H project for each level. 4-H youth may be involved in 4-H programs or activities not related to projects.
- If necessary, youth may be allowed to amend their plans. Due to unforeseen circumstances (loss of an animal, loss of a garden from drought, etc.), a 4-H youth may amend their plan. Levels 1–4 can be amended by agreement between the 4-H youth and parent/guardian and/or leader. Levels 5 and 6 may be amended by agreement between the 4-H youth, parent/guardian, and/or leader and local Extension staff.
- 4-H youth may begin participation in the Diamond clover program at any time of the year.
- Youth must complete the Plan & Report Form for each level. Forms are available as fillable PDFs (anyone with Adobe Reader 7 or 8 can fill-in, save and print the PDF files) and Microsoft Word. 4-H youth may also legibly handwrite on the forms.
- Approval: Levels 1–4 require the approval of a 4-H youth’s parent/guardian. If the 4-H youth belongs to a 4-H club, club leader approval is also required (if 4-H youth belongs to more than one club, choose one leader to work with). Levels 5 and 6 require the approval of a local county extension staff member.
- Accomplishments: Each level requires participants to complete a specified number of accomplishments. The 4-H participant may choose accomplishment listed for each level. The accomplishments are age appropriate and increase in quantity and difficulty for each level. Parents/guardians, leaders, and Extension staff may suggest other accomplishments — comparable to those provided — to improve the individual learning experience of each 4-H youth.
Instructions
- To begin, the 4-H participant must complete the Plan portion of the Plan & Report Form for the level they are pursuing.
- A parent/guardian and a 4-H leader will need to confirm the plan.
- This plan should be saved by the young person and used as a point of reference throughout the year.
- Youth may fill out the Report portion of the form as they complete their accomplishments throughout the year, or at the end of the 4-H year.
- A parent/guardian and a 4-H leader will need to confirm the report.
- The completed Plan & Report Form with signatures should be printed and submitted to the local Extension office. Do not email Plan & Report Forms.
Recognition
Participants will obtain a certificate of achievement at the end of the 4-H year (October-December) once they have completed a level. Levels 1 through 6 are awarded by the local Extension office. Level 6 – Diamond recipients will be presented with a certificate and diamond clover pin. Some counties may choose to recognize recipients at county award nights.
For questions about this program or the information on this page, please contact: