The problem

The educational program response

In response, we decided to offer an afterschool 4-H club to meet from 3:30 to 4:30 on Monday evenings. Every month the club would focus on a different theme such as STEM or nutrition and physical fitness. Each club meeting included a lesson, activity, snack and an opportunity for exercise.

The participants/target audience

Our target audience included students in 3^rd through 5^th grades. The weekly club meetings had an average attendance of 18 students. Out of those 18 students, 10 were girls and 8 boys.

Other partners (if applicable)

It is important to note that our Afterschool 4-H Club is a collaboration with the Family Resource Center at Lee County Elementary School. Paige Ramey, the Coordinator of the Family Resource/Youth Service Center was instrumental in the success of the club. Paige passed out and collected permission slips, provided a meeting place, snacks and drinks for the kids, ideas for activities and even taught a lesson.

Program impact or participant response.

Our Afterschool 4-H Club started with only two months of school remaining. It can be difficult to realize outcomes in so short of a time. However, one initial outcome was very apparent to me. That is the impact the club had on Lee County’s 4-H camp participation this year.

The average attendance at a club meeting was 18 students. Out of the regular 18 attendees, 10 of those students went to 4-H camp for the first time this summer. Additionally, some of our club members had siblings or friends who joined them at camp. The impact this had was undeniable as Lee County posted its 3^rd highest camp attendance in county history.