Talking extracurricular activities with University of Minnesota

Families are navigating days full of classes and extracurriculars as students head back to school this fall. 

Kate Walker, youth development state specialist at University of Minnesota Extension, answers questions about how after-school programming can help support learning and growth for students across the state. 

Q: Why are extracurriculars important for kids?
Walker: Afterschool programs provide young people with safe and engaging opportunities to develop skills they need to thrive in work and life. They can explore interests, build skills beyond the school day and contribute to their communities.
These development programs are unique spaces where young people engage in real-world projects, work in teams, take on meaningful challenges and experience the accompanying emotional ups and downs. This makes them a natural space for young people to learn, practice and reinforce a range of skills such as self-control, empathy, teamwork, problem-solving and perseverance.

Q: How can families find an activity that's a good fit?
Walker: Start with your child’s spark or passion. Are they interested in exploring coding, digging into gardening or serving on a youth leadership council? What causes give them purpose or direction? What people or places bring them energy or joy? Do they need homework help, outdoor time, opportunities for self-expression or connection to peers or caring adults? There’s a program or project to fit all their needs and interests.

4-H clubs and opportunities in every Minnesota county and some tribal nations are a great place to start — kids and families can learn more and find programs near them at extension.umn.edu/minnesota-4-h/about-4-h. They can also check with their schools, community centers, libraries or youth-serving organizations like the YMCA or the Boys & Girls Club. 

Q: What challenges do rural families face with after school activities?
Walker: Transportation is typically the biggest barrier, as rural areas often have sparse populations spread across large geographic areas. Funding and staffing shortages can also be issues. While rural kids often participate in sports and music at comparable rates to their urban and suburban peers, the gap widens for special interest opportunities, such as those related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), due to limited access to resources and expertise. 4-H offers distance learning programs to explore, discover and make a difference right from your own home. And 4-H leadership events connect youth across the region, state or country. 

Q: What impact does 4-H have across Minnesota? 
Walker: University of Minnesota Extension has a long history of youth development leadership. We're best known for running Minnesota 4-H for more than 100 years. Minnesota 4-H is the largest youth development program in the state, offering hands-on learning opportunities for youth in kindergarten through one year post-high school. 

Last year Minnesota 4-H served 48,751 youth, and they averaged 7 years in our programs — more than twice the national average. 97% of Minnesota 4-H’ers believe they can make a difference in their communities, and 92% reported gaining confidence in their leadership through Minnesota 4-H. 

Q: How does your work at the University of Minnesota help support quality youth programming across the state?
Walker: My work supports youth-serving organizations through research-based training and resources for adults who work with and on behalf of Minnesota's young people. Last year we facilitated 41 trainings for nearly 1,600 youth workers from other organizations with strategies and skills to support positive youth development across the state and beyond. 

Our youth development curriculum library is a great resource for individual lessons and curricula on a variety of topics, such as gardening and agriculture, social and emotional skills, healthy living, college readiness and STEM. 

Kate Walker is a youth development state specialist at the University of Minnesota Extension. She leads the understanding and development of youth work practice. She studies the role that adult program leaders, staff and volunteers play in supporting youth development in programs. She also leads professional development efforts aimed at supporting and improving youth work practice.

About Extension
University of Minnesota Extension shares research-based knowledge through educational programs focused on agriculture, natural resources, communities, youth development and the health and wellbeing of families. See extension.umn.edu to learn about Extension’s work across the state, nation and world. For more news from U of M Extension, visit extension.umn.edu/news.

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“Talking...with University of Minnesota” is a resource whereby University of Minnesota experts answer questions on timely topics. News organizations are welcome to republish this content. If you would like to schedule an interview or have suggestions for future topics, please contact University Public Relations at [email protected].