Achievement Coups (good deeds) are, very simply, material rewards for young princesses for learning or doing something with their big braves (dads).  The requirements for the little princess to earn higher achievement levels are designed so that she will learn valuable lessons about the world around her with the help and guidance of her father. The requirements for the big brave are that he spends time with his  daughter(s) working on the project. This is meant to bring them both closer together.

The GHV Achievement program is divided into five ranks, each with a growing amount of difficulty. This provides challenges for all princesses regardless of age. Each princess, when she joins the program, will be given the necessary materials to construct a Coup Stick of their own to decorate as they see fit and proudly display awards earned at all the various outings and events. The brave should bring their Coup Stick to all campouts (when practical) and display them proudly at their tent or campsite.

Princesses are also given awards which they also hang proudly from their Coup Sticks for placing at nation games held at each camp-out. Nation games are conducted at every nation camp-out and generally consist of three fun events for the girls. These typically include events like frisbee tossing, fishing pole casting, fishing contests, bean bag races, snow sledding, slalom courses, and much, much more.

The nation Achievement Officer will always be available to help anyone with questions regarding the Achievement Program, however, each tribe is responsible for organizing and supervising its own princesses. Each tribe should set aside time at each tribal meeting for the princesses to present their accomplishment to the rest of the tribe, earning feathers for their Coup Sticks.

Tribal princesses will be awarded beads and appropriate medallions as noted below for their completion of ten items from each Achievement level. Ten beads for each level will be required as well as participation in nation events. The beads will be supplied by the Nation Bead and Feather Merchant to the tribal chief for distribution at the tribal meetings. The medallions will be awarded at Catalina Camp, Winter Camp and a Nation Spring Event by the Nation Achievement Coordinator.

The levels will be as follows:

• Level 1 Tan - Princess Running Pony

• Level 2 Green - Cactus Blossom Scout

• Level 3 Blue - Songbird Hunter

• Level 4 Red - Sunshine Princess

• Level 5 Metallic Gold – California Bear Award

Tribal princesses and braves will be awarded feathers as noted below for their participation in nation functions and tribal award ceremonies as supplied by the Nation Feather Merchant.

Feathers presented to the Princess by the Tribe will be as follows:

Feathers presented to the Indian princess by the Nation include:

Each Indian Princess, with their dads, must work their way through the various criteria of each level in order to be awarded the corresponding Achievement Coup. Please submit any achievements to your tribe chief one (1) week prior to any of the major Nation Events to insure your daughter gets recognized at the event. The following information is needed:

• Achievement level met

• Daughters name

• Princesses Indian name

• Tribe

• Age and grade level

ALL SUBMISSIONS SHOULD BE EMAILED TO THE NATION BEAD AND FEATHER MERCHANT. In addition to the requirements for each level the Indian Princess must attend one major campout and 5 nation events in order to achieve each rank

Level 1 - Princess Running Pony

Complete one achievement for each of the ten categories below:

• Indian Folklore/Craft - Make an indian necklace with your indian names. Tell your tribe the story of the headband.
• Culture - Go to a play or concert with your dad. Visit an indian museum. Tell your tribe about it.
• Education - Visit a library and check out a book. Read it with your dad. Do ten math equations.
• Home Safety - Discuss what to do when the phone rings or someone comes to the door when your mom and or dad are not able to answer.
• Nature/Outdoors - Take a one-mile hike with dad. Bring three items to your tribe meeting from the hike like: rocks or seashells. Catch a fish with dad.
• Health/Fitness - Learn how to ride a two-wheel bike. Do ten sit ups and three push ups at tribal meeting.
• Sporting Events - Go to a sporting event with dad, then bring tickets and or program and share with tribe
• Home Economics - Tell what the 5 food groups are. Plant a garden with dad & bring vegetables to the meeting
• Community Activities - Sell 10 pancake breakfast tickets for the YMCA. Attend awalk-a-thon with your dad that raises money for charity.
• Civics/Geography - Visit the animal shelter. Tell your tribe your mom and dads full name, your address and phone number.

Level 2 - Cactus Blossom Scout

Complete one achievement for each of the ten categories below:

• Indian Folklore/Craft - Tell how Indians used animals: horses, buffalo, and deer.
• Culture - Go to play, concert with dad. Tell your tribe the roles indian women played in daily life.
• Education - Read a short story about Indians and report to tribe. Visit a college campus with dad.
• Home Safety - Tell tribe how you would use 911 to call police, fire or emergency units
• Nature/Outdoors - Take a two-mile hike with dad. Observe 3 types of trees and report back to your tribe what you saw. Go ocean fishing
• Health/Fitness - Run 50 yard dash and do long jump. Have dad record time and distance and report to tribe.
• Sporting Events - Go to a sporting event with your dad that you've never seen in person before
• Home Economics - Help dad wash his car. Start an electricity conservation plan for you home and report savings to tribe.
• Community Activities - Sell twenty pancake breakfast tickets. Raise $20 for a charity via a walk-a-thon or other activity
• Civics/Geography - Show tribe on a map where your city is. Who is your mayor, governor and President.

Level 3 - Songbird Hunter Award

Complete one achievement for each of the ten categories below:

Level 4 - Sunshine Princess Award

Complete one achievement for each of the ten categories below:

• Indian Folklore/Craft - Study one Specific Indian Tribe. Tell where they lived, how they acquired food & the types of shelters the lived in.
• Culture - Visit an Indian Pow Wow. See ritual dances and arts and crafts. Report to tribe. (better yet, go together and discuss)
• Education - Read for five hours. Tell your tribe what book(s) you read and what you liked about each one.
• Home Safety - Study earthquake/fire preparation. Make a list of items your home needs to be prepared.
• Nature/Outdoors - Visit a National Park. Bike Ride or Hike to a special waterfall, lake or peak etc. Share pictures with your tribe.
• Health/Fitness - Swim for ten minutes without stopping. Jog for twenty minutes without stopping and ride a bike for twenty minutes.
• Sporting Events - Go to an archery shop and shoot bow and arrow or take a lesson at a park.
• Home Economics - Start a savings account. Save 50% for college, 40% for yourself and 10% for charity.
• Community Activities - Help your tribe make money by having a fund-raising booth at a YMCA event or nation event.
• Civics/Geography - Name one country in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Go to your City Council Meeting.

Level 5 - California Bear Awards

The YMCA is an environment that helps build family values, religious values and community values. The purpose of this added Achievement is to encourage "giving back" to the YMCA, the Nation and Community we belong to. In addition, we want to assist in building a record book of fond memories between father and daughter.

To be eligible for California Bear, the princess must complete the first four achievement levels noted above. During your final year as a Princess, you and your dad should also complete at least one achievement from each of the categories below. Theses are suggestions only!  Anything you do that fits in the categories below counts.

I. Participate at the Nation Level.

• Become a nation officer.
• Volunteer for Nation Fund Raiser.
• Volunteer for Tribal Fund Raiser (donate at least 1/2 to nation).

II. Volunteer at YMCA level

III. Volunteer at Community, Church or Charitable Organization

IV. Environmental Assistance

V. Father/Daughter Memories.