4-H Achievement Program

Through 4-H, you have many opportunities to try different kinds of projects and activities. The 4-H Achievement Program will motivate you to explore the different activities available through 4-H so you can find the activities that spark your inner passions, interests and talents. As you progress through 4-H, the Achievement Program supports your growth in skills and abilities.

Both the Achievement Program and the Record Book are optional programs that help you document your growth in 4-H. They are separate programs that we encourage you to participate in because they support your growth in different ways.

The Achievement Program gives you incentives to find and use your Spark to make a positive difference in the world.
The Record Book helps you to learn and practice record keeping and goal setting. Learn more about the Record Books.

Achievement Program Features

Age-appropriate requirements: Younger members have simpler requirements. Older members progress through increasing challenges for planning, implementation and showcasing of their work.
Older members have more ownership in their achievement plan. Members decide what they want to learn, how they want to learn it, and how they want to share what they learned.
Emphasis on working as part of a team to complete achievement requirements.
Activities can be completed through multiple 4-H program delivery modes: club, camp, afterschool, military, and in-school programs.

Recorded webinar introducing the Spark Achievements level (55:26)

Achievement Levels By Age

The new Achievement Program splits up levels by 4-H age. Activities and goals are designed to be age appropriate and progressive.

Primary members (ages 5-8): iSprout

The iSprout activities focus on the following four topics: Knowing Me, Knowing My Family, Knowing 4-H and Knowing My Community.

Program Materials for iSprout Report for Primary Members (DOC) (aka Record Book for Primary Members)

Junior & New members (ages 9-10): Spark Achievements

The Spark Achievements level will help you build a foundation to progress to the more challenging levels.

Spark Achievements Resources

Achievements Manual Form: Spark Achievements Report Example Spark Achievements Report Sparks Achievement Tracking Form

Intermediate members (ages 11-13): Emerald Star I and Emerald Star II Achievements

The Emerald Star I and Emerald Star II Achievements levels are in a soft-launch phase across the state for the 2023-24 program year.

Returning Intermediate and Senior 4-H’ers who want to switch to the new Achievement Program will also start out at this level.

Intermediate and Senior members who have started Star Ranks have three options:

Continue working on the Star Rank program and related Record Book requirements.*
Finish the current rank you are working toward. Plan to convert to the new program in 2023-24.* Specially designed recognition pins will be awarded for members who complete both systems of achievement.
After achieving Platinum Star Rank, start the new achievement program at any time, after the release of the Emerald Star I and Emerald Star II levels. Specially designed recognition pins will be awarded for members who complete both systems of achievement.

Emerald Star I Report Form Emerald Star II Report Form Emerald Stars Example Form

Senior members (ages 14-18): Impact Star Achievements

The Impact Star Achievements level for Senior Members are in a soft-launch phase across the state for the 2023-24 program year.

Senior members who have started Star Ranks have three options:

Continue working on the Star Rank program and related Record Book requirements.
Finish the current rank you are working toward. Plan to convert to the new program in 2023-24.* Specially designed recognition pins will be awarded for members who complete both systems of achievement.
After achieving Platinum Rank, start the new achievement program at any time, after the release of the Impact Star Achievements level. Specially designed recognition pins will be awarded for members who complete both systems of achievement.

Impact Stars Report Form Impact Stars Example Form

*For more details and to continue participating in the Star Ranking System, please see the PDR report form (Google doc). Please see the Record Book page for other formats of the form.

Understanding Achievement Ranks In SLO County

iSprout/Primary Achievements: Primarys (ages 5-8) learn more about themselves! iSprout - A free Leadership Development Project curriculum that can be used to help Primary Members earn up to 4 leaf shaped pins (one for each potential year as a primary). Primary Members in SLO County - Completing an annual Primary Personal Development Report earns Achievement recognition in the form of colored stars to attach to their hat!

Sparks Achievements: Juniors (ages 9-10) explore the many opportunities of 4-H. A total of Four Levels. Pin glows in the dark!

Emerald Stars: Intermediates (ages 11-13) discovering their purpose. Emerald Star I— Works with an Adult Mentor on developing personal growth goals, career exploration, networking and reflection skills. Emerald Star II— Focus on making an Impact Goal to improve their community while working with a Community Partner/Organization. Uses localized research, analysis and emphasis on showcasing their efforts to inspire others!

Impact Stars: Seniors (ages 14-19) make a difference in their communities. Provide a guided framework that empowers members to work towards their impact goals and make meaningful change while still engaging with a spark that motivates and inspires them. Emphasis on working with Community Partners/Organizations. Can only earn one star per year and must focus on a Service Learning Activity. May work in a team of up to 4!

Spark Achievement Report Activities

Leadership Activity

Serve on a 4-H committee at any level.
Lead a 4-H group activity. Be a 4-H officer.
Enroll and participate in a leadership project at any level.
Attend a 4-H leadership conference, workshop, or training at any level.
Be a junior or teen leader (if 11 years or older).

Civic Engagement Activity

Visit (virtually or in person) a place of historical significance to your community.
Participate in a 4-H community service donation drive that benefits a community organization outside of 4-H.
Learn about your local (city or county) government and how it works.
Give a talk inside or outside of 4-H, about something you learned in a 4-H community service or civic engagement or civic education experience.
Participate in a 4-H sponsored or organized civic engagement activity or event.

Project Learning Activity

Complete two 4-H projects each of which is at least six hours of educational experience.
Participate in a 4-H judging contest or junior judging contest at any level.
Create a flyer, poster, video, or slideshow for a 4-H project skill that teaches the reader something you learned in the project.
Give a talk at any level about something you learned in your 4-H project(s).
Participate in a 4-H event or activity that demonstrates your project knowledge to an audience, judge or evaluator.

Healthy Living Activity

Complete an activity that explores healthy nutrition inside or outside of 4-H.
Complete an activity that explores physical activity and fitness inside or outside of 4-H.
Complete an activity that explores social and emotional wellness inside or outside of 4-H.
Participate in a 4-H Healthy Living event at any level.
Be involved in an activity outside of 4-H that requires at least 25 hours of active participation and shows you are connected to your community.

Communication Activity?

Give a 4-H presentation that follows the 4-H Presentation Manual.
Write an article or blog post for a 4-H publication or about 4-H.
Give an 4-H event or project report at any 4-H meeting at any level.
Write a thank-you letter to someone that supports 4-H.
Make a video that promotes 4-H to the community.?
Appear as a guest representing 4-H for radio or television.?

Community Service Activity

In order to earn a Spark Achievement, the member must complete at least one 4-H unit community service activity with others.? Examples: canned food drive, holiday caroling, cards or letters to military service members.

Key things to remember:

Members may earn more than one level per program year.
Activities/Items can be completed in any order but may not be repeated within a category.
One activity/item may count in more than one category, but not more than twice.
The form is cumulative, and if the member has completed more items than are needed for the current level, they can use the extra items to earn a future level.
Members can potentially earn four pins, one for each level of Spark Achievement.
Since this is a cumulative form, we recommend to keep the same copy year to year.
As part of the Spark Achievements, members will complete a community service activity to earn each Spark Achievement level.
Upon completion of the Spark Achievements, members will identify their spark(s).

What do members need to do?

Start a Spark Achievement Report(Google Doc/ Make a copy)
Complete their Units (Club, Spin, Camp, etc.) Community Service Activity.
Fill out your Spark Achievement Report as they complete activities throughout the year.
When a Spark Achievement Level is completed inform the Unit Leader on when and how to turn it in to recieve your pin!

What are Spark Achievement Levels?

To earn one level of Spark Achievement, a member must complete ONE activity in each category. Members are expected to complete one community service activity offered by the unit, to earn each level. Members may earn more than one level in a program year, as long as they have completed the requisite number of activities in each category.
For example: To earn TWO levels in one program year, a member would need to complete two leadership activities, two civic engagement activities, two project learning activities, two healthy living activities, two communication activities and two community service activities.
Items within each category cannot be completed more than once for credit.