4-H Afterschool Helps Military Family Adjust

U.S. Navy Petty Officer Andrea Candelaria left active duty and joined the reserves to spend more time with her 5-year-old son Benjamin. Shortly thereafter, her reserve unit was deployed to Kuwait. Andrea was forced to leave Ben with his grandmother, Teresa Bengard.

Bengard had recently undergone a series of back surgeries and was preparing for another. She felt overwhelmed. Fortunately, Ben’s Loomis, Calif., 4-H Afterschool program eased the burden.

“Because of the back surgery, I was unable to keep up with him all the time,” Bengard said. “It was a blessing having him in that program.”

At first Ben thought he was spending another normal weekend with Grandma and Grandpa, but after a couple weeks, he would ask for his mother to come home. “Ben would say, ‘I’m missing her too much, she needs to come home,’” Bengard said. “We had some very sad nights.”

The safe familiarity of the 4-H Afterschool program became even more important as Ben began to withdraw, lash out at others and stop listening in school. The trained 4-H Afterschool volunteers helped Ben work past his anger and open up with one-on-one talks and the routine of games and learning. (Read More)

Ashley Buford's 4-H Afterschool Story

More than annoying, mosquitoes often carry disease like the potentially deadly West Nile virus. Seventeen-year-old 4-H member Ashley Buford brought together hundreds of 4-H youth and adults to control Crisp County, Georgia's mosquito pop. More

Video: The 4-H Afterschool Program - A Virtual Tour

March 11, 2005

The 4-H Afterschool Program - A Virtual Tour
Eddie Locklear, National Program Leader, 4H Afterschool Programs
Pat BoyEs, Program Director, 4H/Youth Development, Washington State
This national broadcast will highlight examples of successful 4H Afterschool programs from Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Washington State and will feature pre-produced video segments to highlight some premiere programs.

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4-H Afterschool Program Web site

Don Floyd: National AfterSchool Association's 2006 Conference Speech

National 4-H Council President and CEO Don Floyd addressed conference participants at the National AfterSchool Association's 2006 Conference in February.

Donald T. Floyd, Jr. has been associated with innovative leadership of youth serving non-profits for more than 30 years. In his current leadership role as President and CEO of National 4-H Council, Don provides facilitative stewardship of National 4-H Council. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of America's largest and most diverse youth organization—4-H, a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills, serving more than 7 million young people. (More)