Maryland's Diamond Clover Award

Unit 4: Awards and Recognition
Lesson 6: Maryland’s Diamond Clover Award

Diamond Clover Pin The Diamond Clover Award was created to give Maryland 4-Hers an opportunity for recognition comparable to the Boy Scout Eagle, Girl Scout Gold and FFA Star Farmer. To our knowledge, there has never been a 4-H award like this one. The Diamond Clover is currently unique to Maryland and was awarded for the first time in 2005. We are confident it will become a national award that is held in the same high regard as the Boy Scout Eagle, the current “gold standard” of youth leadership awards.

The Diamond Clover, like the Eagle, includes six levels. Each level is identified by a pin with a gemstone center created exclusively for this award. The six levels are: amethyst, aqua-marine, ruby, sapphire, emerald and diamond. The relative value of the gemstones increase as the member increases his/her knowledge and skills. The first four pins are presented at a 4-H unit awards event. Pin cost is shared by the 4-H unit and Maryland 4-H. Level five and six pins are provided by Maryland 4-H and presented at a state awards event.

Choice Not Requirement - The Diamond Clover is an award a 4-Her chooses to seek and should never be a requirement. Members start at Level One completing one level per year, acquiring the life skills along the way that will be needed to successfully plan, manage, evaluate and document a successful, major service learning project. Older members start at the lowest level possible to assure the maximum acquisition of life skills while avoiding “aging out”.

Plan and Report – This award is unique as it requires a 4-Her to submit a brief plan at the start of a new 4-H year and at year’s end a brief report comparing the work accomplished against the plan. A 4-Her plans his/her work by choosing age appropriate tasks from a suggested list that grow in number and difficulty as the member progresses through the levels. The member’s plan and report should be considered an agreement between the member and his/her club leader with the 4-H Educator becoming part of the process at Level Five. A committee guides the 4-Her through a successful Level Six service learning project.

Online Forms - All plan and report forms are available at www.maryland4h.org/awards .

Major Project - Level Six has two parts, the first being similar to levels one through five. The Youth Building a Stronger Americ service learning project is the second part. The 4-Her’s first step is discussing project ideas with his/her club leader. When a project is agreed upon, the 4-Her prepares a detailed proposal for the Local Diamond Clover Committee (three to five people appointed by the 4-H Educator) to review. The committee may approve the proposal or request more information. With committee approval the proposal next goes to the State 4-H Leader (or designate) for final review. No work may begin on the project prior to State Leader approval. The 4-Her submits a detailed report (with documentation) at the project’s conclusion for local committee and State Leader approval.

See Diamond Clover Guidelines ( www.maryland4h.org/awards )for more detailed information.

If you have a question or comment please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Dan Tabler at dtabler@umd.edu , or by calling 302 856-4513.

Click Post-Test and when you've completed the test you will have finished this unit. Thanks for your help with this important part of the study.

dht 1/11/07

For more information, contact Lisa Dennis

Last updated: 06/13/2009