When school bells ring across the country, signaling the end of another day, 14 million children in kindergarten through 12th grade head to places unsupervised by adults--empty homes, friends' houses, shopping malls, backyards and more. It can be an unproductive and uninspiring time for kids. And at its worst, kids left to their own devices can get into trouble; the hours with the highest crime rates involving teens are between 3 and 6 p.m., according to the National Center for Juvenile Justice.

Nationwide, after-school programs are working to meet the growing needs of parents and children to fill this gap. But a recent study by the Afterschool Alliance reports the supply of programs in the United States still isn't able to meet the needs of millions of children and their working parents.

That's why, in 2002, 4-H, the century-old youth education initiative, launched 4-H Afterschool (www.4hafterschool.org), a volunteer-driven program designed to help kids find something fun, constructive and safe to do in the hours after school.

"We're trying to help potential volunteers realize they can really make an impact on young people," says program coordinator Ron Drum.