MARYLAND 4-H DIAMOND CLOVER PROCESS April Barczewski - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

MARYLAND 4-H DIAMOND CLOVER PROCESS

April Barczewski

http://extension.umd.edu/4-h/youth-families/awards-recognition

Diamond Clover Level 6-Plan & Report-Part 1

Part 1-Tasks:

Complete at least eight of the tasks and plan, organize, implement, conduct, promote and evaluate a major service-learning project. (Service-learning project does not count as one of the eight tasks you are required to complete) ฀ Attend at least 60% of club business meetings ฀ Serve as a 4-H club officer or chair committee ฀ Lead a club/community service-learning project ฀ Lead a club/community fundraiser ฀ Provide leadership or teach at a local 4-H County/City activity/event ฀ Participate in a 4-H communications event (ex: public speaking day, visual presentations workshop, etc.) ฀ Participate in at least one state 4-H event ฀ Participate in a national or international event representing 4-H ฀ Help a younger 4-H member with their project or demonstration ฀ Participate in a local 4-H County/City/cluster/regional/state overnight experiences, Maryland 4-H Congress or Issue Forums ฀ Complete at least one 4-H project from a new project area (refer to project completion guidelines)

Part 2: Major Service Project

A major project is one that makes long-lasting benefits to the community, may involve community collaboration to accomplish, may take a year or longer to plan and

• complete. The Diamond Clover Project should make a difference in your community.

This requires the 4-Her to complete a project that benefits their community. The 4-Her will submit a detailed plan that includes: description of the project, justification for the project, who will be recruited to help, a budget that states how funds will be obtained, projected timeline and any necessary approval letters from landowners, 4-H County/City, government, etc. The Diamond Clover Committee should consist of, but is not limited to at least three members including: 4-H Club Leaders, UME Volunteers, previous Diamond Clover winners, 4-H All Stars, and any persons actively involved with

• project. These committee members must be non-related to the Diamond Clover
• candidate. It is the candidate’s responsibility to contact people to serve as their

committee members, not the responsibility of anyone else. The Local Committee, County/City 4-H Educator and State 4-H Program Leader must approve the plan before any work is started.

The Diamond Clover Service Project:



This is not a community service project, it’s a service-learning project. (ex: collecting food for a soup kitchen vs. starting a community soup kitchen)



Should make a difference in your community or fulfill a need in the community



Be a challenge that allows you to develop life skills (planning, organizing, follow through)



Should involve others in the community and develop community partnerships



Plan should include how to maintain the project to have lasting impact beyond just

• ne day or one event



Should take time to develop a detailed plan, organize, implement, conduct, promote, evaluate and provide follow-up information of the success of the program



Should take at least an estimated 100 hours to implement and complete



The sky is your limit…use your creativity and imagination

Diamond Clover Samples:

 Develop a Recycling Program at the County Fair or

an area of need and plan for its sustainability

 Initiate a River or Beach Cleanup and plan for its

sustainability

 Repair a local troubled youth facility, inside and

• ut, including woodwork, painting and carpeting

 Plant trees and place boulders in a local park to

stop off-road vehicles from damaging grounds

4-H Diamond Clover Committee Members

 Provide guidance throughout the process  Meet regularly with 4-H member  Review proposal and final report  Help identify other adults to serve as resources

My Thoughts on the Diamond Clover Project

The Diamond Clover Project:

• Should make a difference in your community or fulfill a need in the community
• Be a challenge that allows you to develop life skills (planning, organizing, follow up)
• Can involved others in the community
• You should have a plan on how to maintain the project if it is continuing and should have lasting impact beyond just one day or a
• ne time event
• Should take you a long time to plan, organize, develop and follow through with…should not just take one day to complete.

(Requires many hours to develop)

• The sky is your limit….use your creativity and imagination
• The Diamond Clover Project is your project (4-Hers) not your club leaders, parents, committee, or friends!!!

Diamond Clover Award Recipient Past Samples:

Past Samples:

• Fair Recycling Program
• Smash for a Cure
• 4-H After-School Program for At-Risk ESOL Youth
• Horse Assistance Program to work with Children of Need
• River & Beach Cleanup
• Blanket Drive for the local hospital for infants
• Painting Quilts on a Barn for Countywide Driving tours

Some Samples of Eagle Projects:

• Landscaped the non-profits grounds, including shrubs, ground cover, and edging
• Repaired fencing and outdoor facilities at a nursing home and organized a social function for the residents
• Repaired a local troubled youth facility, inside and out, including woodwork, painting, carpeting
• Collected children's books and toys and setup a play area at a public hospital neighborhood clinic.
• Planted trees and placed boulders in a local park to stop off-road vehicles from damaging grounds
• Conducted a bicycle safety program at a community summer camp for underprivileged children
• Built a nature trail and erosion dams in a city park
• Rebuilt and greatly improved a patio at a local troubled youth home

Potential Partnerships



Calvert Grange

 Heating Improvements  Flooring Improvements



Cecil County Fair

 Second Horse Show Judges Stand  New Dividers Between the Horse Show Rings  Livestock Barn Renovations  Benches for the Fairgrounds



Cecil County Farm Museum

 Cecil County 4-H History Display  Tables, Chairs, Walls & Restroom Facilities  Memorabilia Display

Review Criteria

Deadlines

 Diamond Level 6 plans (including the community

service project plan) are due on September 1st to the Cecil County Extension Office and September 30th to the State 4-H Online Portal by the 4-H educator for completion the following year.

Maryland 4-H Diamond Clover Level 6 Online Portal

Timeline

• Meet with 4-H Educator in June to discuss plan & submit plan to educator

by September 1st

• September 30th – STATE Deadline for Level 6 Proposal
• From 10/1-10/30 – Proposals are being reviewed/ suggestions are made

/ 4-Hers are given feedback to revise

• November 15th – revised Proposals are re-submitted for final approval.
• By the end of the year – Final Approval/denial is granted by the State 4-H

Program Leader.

• January 1st – 4-Hers start on their APPROVED Proposal
• Project can take multiple years to complete
• Final Report of completed Diamond Clover Level 6 Due by September 30th

Local Committee, 4-H Educator and State 4-H Program Leader MUST approve plan prior to youth starting the Level Six Service Project. The Diamond Clover Project is your project (4- Hers) not your club leaders, parents, committee,

• r friends!!!