By Lauren Burdick

Leelanau County was able to provide a much needed child care program with help from Michigan State University (MSU) Extension, says Extension educator Barb Duvall.

4-H Kids Club is an after-school program for children to participate in until their parents are home from work. The program is offered throughout the school year and summer at three different schools in Leelanau County, including Suttons Bay, Leland and Glen Lake Schools, ranging from first- to eighth-graders.

Kids in the Leland summer 4-H Kids Club take daily field trips to keep busy throughout the day. They have gone on bike rides, visited the local water park and the Traverse City Cherry Festival.

“It’s really a fun time for the kids involved,” says Duvall.

The program was designed after parents in the community contacted MSU Extension looking to set up a program designed for school-aged kids that would be available before and after school and also in the summer.

“It’s hard to find after-school daycare,” says Duvall. “And most child care businesses are set up to provide for preschool-aged kids, but the needs of school-aged kids are different. They have different energy levels and interests and want to be with kids their own age.”

Kids in the summer program have fun while participating in learning activities at the same time. The goal of 4-H Kids Club is to provide a safe, stimulating and nurturing atmosphere for school-aged children where they can play as well as learn.

“The need for a child care program was brought to our attention, and we were able to help provide the resources to help meet the needs of the community,” says Duvall.