4-H Thriving Model – Signs of a Great 4-H Program (EBR-2025-0761)

Updated: June 22, 2026

By Amy Lang

EBR-2025-0761 | June 2026

4-H Thriving Model – Signs of a Great 4-H Program

By Amy Lang, 4-H Youth Development Educator, University of Maryland Extension, Queen Anne’s County

A group of six children standing close together outdoors in a sunlit park. Three children are in focus at the front, wearing bright yellow, white, and pink clothing, with arms around one another's shoulders. Three more children stand slightly behind and to the side, blurred due to shallow depth of field. — A joyous youth meeting. (Photo by AdobeStock_279960494)

The 4-H Thriving Model Signs of a Great 4-H Program observation/reflection tool was derived from the 4-H Thriving Model Program Evaluation Instruments developed by Mary Arnold and Ryan Gagnon (2018). The tool was designed to help club leaders plan meetings and activities with the 4-H Thriving Model in mind. It can be used in several ways. Here are just a few…

Share the tool with club leaders and invite them to use it as they plan meetings and activities. Encourage them to consider using this tool as they plan their annual calendars with youth, and then again as they reflect on how last year’s program went. Are there areas they want to focus on in the coming year? Do they need suggestions on how to do so? Work with them to develop simple fact sheets with tips and tricks for the areas they identify.
Share the tool with club leaders and ask them to reflect on examples they’ve seen done well, and areas where they need support. A leader might share an effective and engaging example of belonging: “Our old club leader invited youth members to serve as welcome ambassadors. If someone new arrived at a meeting, the welcome ambassador would greet them, sit with them, and get to know them a bit, so they could introduce them when the meeting began. In this way existing members feel valued, and new members or visitors feel welcome and included.”
Use the tool to provide feedback after club visits and observations; highlight the great things you saw and encourage them to consider incorporating an area or two into their programs to strengthen the quality of their meetings.
Incorporate the tool into your club officer training. Encourage them to use the tool to consider how each of these elements are being integrated into their club meetings, and if there might be areas that need to be improved.
Have club officers and leaders use the tool to assess their program. At the end of each calendar year, hold a joint meeting with officers and leaders to share their assessments and discuss any needed adjustments for the coming year.

4-H Thriving Model flowchart showing how developmental context leads to youth thriving (including spark, belonging, Relationships, and engagement), which produces developmental outcomes (competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and contribution), ultimately resulting in long-term outcomes such as vocational success, employability, life satisfaction, and well-being. — Image courtesy of National 4-H Council PLWG Standing Committee on Positive Youth Development, https://helping-youth-thrive.extension.org/home/

Signs of a Great 4-H Club/Meeting Program

Instructions: If you are completing this form on a computer, first download the "Signs of a Great 4-H Club/Meeting Program" PDF. For each item, use the dropdown menu to select the appropriate evaluation level (Not Observed, Partially Observed, or Observed). Add comments as needed.

**Sparks**
Things to look for	Evaluation	Comments
The meetings have variety.	[Enter evaluation]	[Comments]
Each meeting has fun, learning, and fellowship.	[Enter evaluation]	[Comments]
The program gives youth the opportunity to explore things they really care about.	[Enter evaluation]	[Comments]
There is an educational program in addition to the business meeting and recreation.	[Enter evaluation]	[Comments]

**Belonging**
Things to look for	Evaluation	Comments
Youth members feel welcome and comfortable.	[Enter evaluation]	[Comments]
Guests are introduced and made to feel welcome and comfortable.	[Enter evaluation]	[Comments]
Youth in the program feel safe and supported.	[Enter evaluation]	[Comments]
Youth in the program feel like they matter.	[Enter evaluation]	[Comments]
Members show each other respect and cooperate with each other.	[Enter evaluation]	[Comments]

Engagements
Things to look for	Evaluation	Comments
Youth attend club meetings regularly.	[Enter evaluation]	[Comments]
Youth participate in county, state, and national programs beyond their club activities.	[Enter evaluation]	[Comments]
The meeting follows a pre-planned agenda to ensure focus and efficiency.	[Enter evaluation]	[Comments]

AMY LANG
amlang@umd.edu

This publication, 4-H Thriving Model – Signs of a Great 4-H Program (EBR-2025-0761), is a part of a collection produced by the University of Maryland Extension within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The information presented has met UME peer-review standards, including internal and external technical review. For help accessing this or any UME publication contact: itaccessibility@umd.edu

For more information on this and other topics, visit the University of Maryland Extension website at extension.umd.edu

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When citing this publication, please use the suggested format:

Lang, A. (2026). 4-H Thriving Model – Signs of a Great 4-H Program (EBR-2025-0761). University of Maryland Extension. go.umd.edu/EBR-2025-0761.

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