91原创

鈥淲hat does a volcano do?鈥� Aleksandrowicz asked.聽

鈥淪pits out lava,鈥� said one student, after catching the ball.

鈥淪pits out lava 鈥� so what does it do? Erupts!鈥� said Aleksandrowicz, throwing her hands enthusiastically into the air.聽

The students were excited to share their thoughts about the afterschool program.

Kaiden Smith-Burris, a third grade student in his third year of the program, said he had a lot of fun that day.聽

鈥淢s. A is a great person,鈥� Smith-Burris said. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned a lot. I learned how to make hot chocolate. We learned how to get our exercise. We learned how to get our energy out 鈥� that鈥檚 a big one.鈥�

The program at Mispillion Elementary is one of five 4-H afterschool programs run by 91原创 Cooperative Extension in elementary and middle schools across the state. Funded through state and federal grants, 4-H afterschool programs give the more than 150 enrolled children homework help, nutritious snacks and hands-on learning activities in an environment that keeps them engaged and sets them up for academic success. At a time when future funding for federal funding for the program that serves nearly 1.4 million children nationwide is uncertain, recognizing the program鈥檚 impact is more important than ever.聽

鈥淏ecause we are a 4-H afterschool program, of course our focus is around the 4-H motto: 鈥楲earn by doing,鈥欌�� said Kendra Harrold, the director of the 4-H afterschool program for Sussex County Cooperative Extension. 鈥淲e keep them engaged. We鈥檙e reducing any kind of time that they might be unsupervised.鈥�

For four days a week from the school dismissal bell until 6 p.m. (for elementary school children) or 5:30 p.m. (for middle school children), and for six weeks in the summer, students remain in a trusted and secure environment.

The program is free 鈥� providing relief to many families facing economic pressure. Ernie Lopez, 4-H state program leader, said it鈥檚 essential for working parents.

鈥淭he need and demand for parents to be working full-time is strong out there in the economy right now,鈥� Lopez said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e able to provide that safe space in afterschool hours, but still in the work hours of parents and guardians. So we鈥檙e meeting the demand in providing safe spaces for learning for kids, while their parents are meeting the demand to continue working.鈥澛�

Fontella Taylor, the statewide 4-H youth development grant manager and interim director of the New Castle County 4-H afterschool program, said the program allocates time for students to do homework and for 4-H staff to help them if they need it.

鈥淎lmost all the students have a Chromebook issued by their school,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e able to have them log into their account and see what is due, what is incomplete, or what tests they fail, what their grades are, and we are able to help them in that aspect.鈥澛�

According to Delaware 4-H staff, children who attend the afterschool program ultimately improve their grades in school, with certified teachers serving on staff to support their academic growth.

Multiple parents say the program is helpful for them. Jasmine Smith, a parent of second-grader Kennedi Sylvester, works full-time from home. After she finishes work, she is able to start preparing dinner for her family before she picks up Kennedi from the afterschool program.聽

鈥淏y the time I pick her up, everything flows into the evening really smoothly,鈥� she said.

Jasmine has noticed Kennedi improving academically and excelling in other life skills. She attributes that to the afterschool program.

鈥淪he鈥檚 really been accelerating in her reading, and she鈥檚 feeling more comfortable engaging with other kids,鈥� she said. 鈥淪he also has more curiosity and wants to explore things, and she wants to incorporate activities at home.鈥澛�

In February, the program did a favorite foods contest where students prepared their favorite appetizers, bread or dessert. Smith said Kennedi came home excited to cook.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been really transformative as far as her personality and her really coming out of her shell,鈥� she said.聽

That enrichment is why Todd Smith said his son Dylan keeps going back. Even though he could pick Dylan up from the bus stop when school gets out, Dylan wants to stay with 4-H.

鈥淗e鈥檚 always having a good time,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e's talking about the projects and the friends that he makes here.鈥澛�

Zuri Jewell boasted about her new friends and showed off a bracelet she made at the Mispillion Elementary afterschool location. Jewell and her friend, Aniyah Pritchett, were happy to model their pink and white bracelets. The friends are what keep Jewell coming back.

鈥淚 like 4-H because I get to meet a lot of new people who go to my school,鈥� Jewell said.

Some students can鈥檛 wait for the last bell of the school day. But for 4-H afterschoolers, it marks the start of a space where they can explore their interests, turn their energy into creativity and connection, and, most importantly, have fun.