Jackson County 4-H is collaborating with the Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley in Black River Falls and Ho-Chunk Nation Youth Services to add 4-H to their afterschool programing. 4-H Educator Alex Galston leads fourth and fifth grade youth biweekly in hands-on STEM projects. Activities are decided based on topics that the youth choose as a group. Youth keep a group list of topics they are interested in and add to the list when they have new ideas. Boys and Girls Club youth that participate in 4-H programming have the opportunity to become members of 4-H. Youth have learned how to measure distance by counting their strides, puppetry, and what a chemical reaction is while making perennial favorite slime.

Ho-Chunk Nation Youth Services has invited 4-H to join them during their monthly Family Night events in Black River Falls. 4-H provides short hands-on activities to youth in kindergarten through middle school. Youth have had a chance to learn about potential versus kinetic energy while launching catapults and birds that stay in Wisconsin during the winter while making bird feeders. 4-H at Ho-Chunk Youth Services in Black River Falls is moving to biweekly offerings after positive engagement during Family Night Events.

Jackson County 4-H is collaborating with Boys and Girls Club and Youth Service leaders to continue providing activities throughout the summer since both organizations are open year-round.