4-H Trips & Recognition Awards
Let’s celebrate all 4-H Youth and Volunteers in Marathon County. Scroll through this page to learn more about travel scholarships and member recognition. If you have questions, contact the 4-H Office at 715-261-1231.
Scroll through this page to find: Travel Sponsorships; Club/County Awards; Key Award Nominations and more!
Due Dates:
- All travel applications applications are due by October 22nd
- Member and Leader recognition due by September 30th.
- College Scholarships due April 1st.
- All must be submitted to: UW Extension: 4-H Awards Committee, 1100 Lake View Drive #500, Wausau, WI 54403-5476.
College Scholarships
Due: April 1st
Submit to holly.luerssen@wisc.edu
4-H Leaders’ Federation Scholarship – The 4-H Leader’s Federation offers up to five scholarships to assist and encourage Marathon County 4-H members to pursue a higher education at a college or technical institute. To apply, any person must have been in a Marathon County 4-H for five (5) years, a full-time under-graduate student entering at least their second year of college. They must have completed at least 24 college credits and carry a college GPA of 2.5 or better. To apply for the scholarship, submit a cover letter and resume by April 1st.
Trip Applicants: Successful applicatants will receive 50-75% travel sponsorships from the Marathon County 4-H Leaders Federation.
Application and it’s pieces are due Oct.22nd . Find information on individual trips below. Use this link to apply https://bit.ly/4HTravelSponsorship25
Check out the Travel Sponsorships Handbook for a few tips to participating in the application process. https://bit.ly/4HTravelHandbook
Individual 4-H Trips
Youth enroll for 4-H Trips directly through wi.4honline.com. County approval is only required if the youth desires a scholarship to attend. To receive a scholarship from the Marathon County 4-H Leaders Federation, the application process and a County interview are required. If possible, please make use of the downloadable/fillable forms. Otherwise, please write legibly. NOTE: All fees are approximate.
Summer Academy (former Wisconsin 4-H & Youth Conference) – Approximately 300 youth, grades 7 – 10, attend this educational event in Madison each summer. Participants take part in educational seminars and assemblies, meeting people from across Wisconsin. They are encouraged to take what they learn and share it with others in their home community. Youth have the opportunity to attend this conference more than once, but must apply to attend this conference each time. To apply, complete the Wisconsin 4-H & Youth Conference Event Registration form on wi.4honline.com. The registration period is coming Spring 2026. Watch for enrollment details.
Your Cost: $250/125 – Approximate Trip Fee: $500
Space Camp – Youth in grades 6 – 8 may apply for this trip. This conference is usually held in April, in Huntsville, Alabama. Delegates participate in hands-on mock space missions and other activities in this NASA program while exchanging ideas with youth from across Wisconsin. To apply for the trip, complete the Space Camp Event Registration form on wi.4honline.com. The final cost of the trip will be shared when available. The registration period is coming Winter 2025/26. Watch for enrollment details.
Your Cost: $750/375 Approximate Cost: $1500
Ignite – New Opportunity in 2026! – Dates: March 25 – 29th. For four days, teens from all over the country come to D.C. to collaborate, connect, and cultivate a passion for expanding their minds and their world – becoming resilient and ready for everything life has to offer. Teens will immerse themselves in hands-on workshops, experiences, activities in their key programming areas of AgriScience, Animal Science, Community Accelerators, Healthy Living (featuring soccer), or STEM to continue to find their spark. Youth in 10th – 12th grades, may be selected for this 4 day trip to DC. To apply, complete the Ignite application in event Registration form on wi.4honline.com. The registration period typically is in September each year. Watch for enrollment details.
Ignite Tracks: Animal Science, STEM, Community Accelerators or CWF. Youth select a track to participate in.
Your Cost: $1100/$550 Approximate Trip Fee: $2200
Not currently available. National 4-H Congress – Youth are selected to attend this youth leadership conference in Atlanta, GA. Delegates participate in self-development seminars, tours, and a service project, while exchanging ideas with youth from across the country. Members in grades 10–12 may apply. Complete the application process to apply. A required County interview will be scheduled later. The cost of the trip will be shared with the Marathon County Leaders’ Federation. Watch for enrollment details June/July 2026 for the Nov 2026 trip.
Your Cost: $800/400 Approximate Trip Fee: $1600
National 4-H Conference – Six youth are selected to attend this working conference held at the National 4-H Center in Washington, D.C. Each participant selects an issue and works with other youth from across the country to develop plans that help direct future 4-H programming across the United States. Delegates spend the majority of time contributing to stimulating, task-oriented groups. One day is spent on Capitol Hill, meeting with legislators and touring. Members in grades 10 – 12 may apply. Complete the application process to apply. These must be submitted by October 15. A required County interview will be scheduled later. The selected youth are then recommended to State Level from where the youth are selected. Cost of trip is shared with Marathon County Leaders Federation. The registration period is Winter 2025/26. Watch for enrollment details.
Your Cost: $1000/500 Approximate Trip Fee: $2000
American Spirit East –Experience history & heritage by immersing in a 10-day bus journey to the East Coast and Canada — Youth-led content throughout the experience — Increase knowledge of American history while experiencing where it occurred — Dynamic exposure to diverse cultural experiences and perspectives of the foundation of our nation. The registration period is coming soon (Winter 2024/25). Watch for enrollment details.
Your Cost: $1250/625 Approximate Trip Fee: $2500
Advanced Space Academy happens every other year and it explores college and career preparation through an immersive experience in science, technology, engineering and math. Trainees undergo a variety of astronaut training exercises, engineering challenges, and team building activities, all culminating in an extended duration simulated space mission. Activities include: high/low ropes course, simulators, Russian language lessons, SCUBA diving instruction, fighter jet simulators, advanced rocketry, and more! Youth who participate will earn one credit hour of freshman level general science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in this college accredited program. Registration happens every other year.
Your Cost: $1250/625 Approximate Trip Fee: $2500
Annual 4-H Recognition Celebration – Awards Information
The Annual Leader-Member Recognition Celebration in the fall celebrates the accomplishments and honors of various 4-H Clubs, Members, and Volunteers. The forms for application for these awards are on the website Forms and Applications page in the “Trips and Awards” section.
The following forms and club books are due in the 4-H office by September 30th.
**4-H Club Awards:
Scrapbook – Club Scrapbooks are recognized for the neat, accurate, and eye-appealing information collected and stored during the year of the club’s activities and events.
Secretary’s Book – Club Secretaries are recognized for the neat and accurate completion of the Secretary’s Book. The entire book is to be submitted.
Marathon County 4-H Community Service Project Award Form – The website form is be completed for each Community Service project done during the past year. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards are awarded for clubs in the Small, Medium, or Large Club divisions.
**4-H County Awards for Leaders/Volunteers:
Adult awards are selected from nominations from the clubs, using the Adult Award Nomination form submitted by September 30th.
Friend of 4-H Award (Volunteer of the Year) – Recognizes non 4-H volunteer or business from the community who supports 4-H for the past year. They are selected through people who are nominated from people from the clubs.
Clover Power Plus Award – The Clover Power Plus Award is awarded each year to recognize adult 4-H volunteer(s) who reach youth from multiple clubs or county basis. They are selected through people who are nominated from people from the clubs.
***4-H County Awards / Opportunities for Youth Members:
Achievement Awards – Recognition for overall achievement on a project, club, or country basis. This award is for youth enrolling in 7th – 9th grade. To be considered youth must fill out the form. Youth are selected on the basis of the information on the form by the committee.
Project Awards – Recognition for achievement in all project areas. One “senior” for youth in grades 9 – 13, one intermediate for youth in grades 6 – 8, and one “junior” for youth in grades 3 – 5 award is available in each project area. Youth may receive only one award in each level of each project award in their 4-H work. Members can only apply for a total of 3 project awards per year and can only receive a total of 2 project awards per year. Completion of the Project Award form is required and due September 30th.
Rank Awards – Recognizes overall 4-H participation. Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels may be achieved; however youth may only attain each level once, in a sequential order and only one rank a year. Appropriate pins are issued to recipients. Any member may apply, including Cloverbuds. Completion of the Rank Award form is required by September 30th.
Wisconsin 4-H Key Award – The Key Award is considered the highest member achievement in 4-H. Recipients are recognized for their contributions on the club, county, and state levels and for their leadership in the 4-H program. New this year! Marathon County 4-H Key Award Applicants will be selected through a nomination process. Who can submit a nomination? Club leaders, project leaders, or another youth. To nominate someone for this award https://bit.ly/4HKeyAward25. Form is due September 30th.
