According to Afterschool Alliance, afterschool programs improve attendance, classroom engagement, and academic performance; decrease disciplinary incidents; and help close the achievement gap among participating youth (Afterschool Alliance, 2017). In Carlisle County, there is not an existing afterschool program in place aside from school-sponsored extracurricular activities. Carlisle County 4-H utilizes 4-H programming as a way to offer afterschool engagement in this rural community by holding project classes after school throughout the semester. Utilizing adult and teen volunteers and Extension staff, the program is able to offer eight or more classes a semester that youth may sign up for at cost, offering an affordable option for afterschool learning. Clover College is typically for youth in grades 3-8, with high school youth serving as class assistants and leaders. Almost every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday throughout the semester, there is a 4-H class offered for youth at the school or Extension Office between 3:00 and 5:00 pm.

Classes have been offered in the areas of visual arts, soil science, leadership, cooking, small engines, food preparation, upcycling, grilling, sewing, international foods, communications, cultural education, nutrition, horticulture, dogs, food preservation, service learning, and more. Youth are able to explore new areas in a short-term environment to learn what they like and do not like, and often seek out more 4-H experiences in project areas they enjoy. Parents of youth who participate in Clover College report high levels of satisfaction with the hands-on programming their child experiences in a variety of project areas; the inclusive environment in which the programming is conducted with caring adults and teens, opportunities to make new friends, and nutritious snacks; as well as with the low cost to participate.  Youth who participate in a Clover College class are more likely to participate in other forms of 4-H programming, including 4-H camp and traditional 4-H clubs, and some parents have reported increased engagement at school and decreased behavioral incidents due to the 4-H experience.