Bridging the Gap: Retaining Clover Kid Members
Wapello County is well known for their Clover Kids Program, annually serving over 250 youth. An outstanding partnership with local elementary schools has been key to this success. What has been a challenge, however, has been retaining Clover Kids members into 4-H. To address that challenge, a similarly structed club was created at Liberty Elementary, which serves 4th-6th grades.
In eight lessons the club covered topics including healthy living, financial literacy, community engagement and introduced them to the opportunities provided by 4-H in our community. Each month, they were introduced to a 4-H member so they could make connections with other local 4-H kids. Club members also planned three community service project.
The Liberty After School Adventure 4-H Club was successful in not only retaining Clover Kids members, but recruiting new members as well. Out of eleven members, four were previously Clover Kids and seven were completely new to 4-H. Three members participated in the 4-H Expo.
One parent shared that her daughter Rebecca always loved coming to Liberty After School Adventure Club. “She was constantly thinking of projects she could make for Expo!”
The Liberty After School Adventure 4-H Club received a Program Grant from the Iowa 4-H Foundation which provided enrollment fees for members and covered supplies for the club.
