What do youth in rural communities do after school? “Watch TV, hang out, be bored, do nothing, bother my little brother, and play Nintendo” are the responses youth gave when asked what they would do if they were not active in the 4-H after school program in Washtucna.

During the past four years, the out-of-school 4-H program has grown to reach more than 950 youth and 275 adults throughout Lincoln and the dryland portion of Adams County. Local half-time community coordinators are hired year-round for Harrington, Ritzville, Lind, Washtucna, and Kahlotus. Half-time summer coordinators are hired for Reardan, Davenport, Wilbur/Creston, Sprague, and Almira. In addition, two part-time coordinators focus on career development, workforce preparation, and clothing and textiles in Lincoln County.

The U.S. Department of Education cites that students who spend 1–4 hours per week in extracurricular activities are 49% less likely to use drugs and 37% less likely to become teen parents. They have also found that children who regularly attend quality programs have better grades and conduct in school, better peer relations and emotional adjustment, and more academic and enrichment opportunities.

After school programs also keep kids safe. Statistics have proven that juvenile crime triples from 3–8 pm. But, 4-H out-of-school time programs also impact juvenile crime during school hours. During the 1998–1999 school year, the Washtucna school placed 32 calls to the Adams County Sheriff’s department for various juvenile offenses.

Then, concurrently, the 4-H after-school and community development programs began “Bridging the Gap of Isolation.” The following year, the school made only three calls to law enforcement. Dr. Dale Clark, Washtucna School District Superintendent, attributes this directly to the program. Dr. Clark also relates, “Some of the families involved with the after-school and community 4-H programs have resulted in their children’s grade point averages going up from one to one and one-half points-all of a sudden, study was important in the home.” One high school participant will be the first member of her family to graduate from high school.

Last fall, 64% of the student body (birth through 12th grade) volunteered their Saturdays to clean up the “future” community and youth center in Washtucna. Similarly, in the rural community of Lind, 50% of the student body participated in a community clean-up.

During the Annual All-Night Career Tour, which visits Spokane businesses during the graveyard shift, teens reflected that, “I need an education for a good job.” “If you do or have done drugs, nobody wants you.” “The night-time job force is strong and unknown.”

Afterschool programs can develop children’s interests in the arts, music, drama, community service, and technology. A popular program in three of the communities is scrap-booking, where youth research their families’ histories, document important events in their lives, and preserve memories of their school and community.

More than 96% of youth participants developed a new interest, skill, or hobby. Photography, machine embroidery, sewing and quilting, rocketry, golf, and puppetry are popular in the afterschool and summer programs.

Eighty-eight percent of the youth participating in the program indicated they, “met an adult I would call a friend.” Youth can identify community adults who are about them. Last summer, 92% of participants’ parents indicated that, “The program provided opportunities for my child(ren) to meet caring adults from my community.”

The afterschool and summer programs in Lincoln and Adams counties are currently funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Education-21st Century Community Learning Center Program, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention-Drug-Free Communities Grant, Lincoln, and Adams Community Network, Lincoln County Community Mobilization and local businesses, school districts, Quilt Guilds, and private individuals.