Summer Internship Program: Clarke County

Primary Program Area Focus: 4-H  

1. Describe your plans for this internship.  (i.e. What specifically will the intern be doing?)

The 2022 VCE- Clarke intern will work with the 4-H agent to assist in the planning and delivery of educational summer programs related to 4-H Youth Development, both in-person and virtually.

These program responsibilities will include assist with various tasks related to Clarke-Warren 4-H Junior Camp at the NOVA 4‑H Center, including but not limited to, room assignments, class supply organization, name tags, and teen counselor trainings and events.

The intern will also assume a leadership role in managing 4-H programs and provide an Extension presence at the Clarke County Show and Sale, to include assisting volunteers with show management and the 4-H/FFA Livestock Sale and supporting 4-H members in their project work. The intern will also assist with educational programs related to 4-H members showing livestock including YQCA, Goat Camp, Livestock Weigh-in, Clarke- Frederick Lamb Camp, and the Lamb & Goat Show.

The intern may also have an opportunity to assist with other educational programs including food preservation workshops while working with the FCS agent and youth livestock programs while working with the ANR agent.

The Clarke Unit is currently planning in-person programming for the summer, as allowed by and in accordance with VCE and state government restrictions but will have optional programming available to include virtual assignments, in addition to, or to substitute for the above programming.

2. Describe the knowledge / skills you expect the intern to gain from this experience.

The intern will work closely with the Clarke 4-H agent and Extension staff to gain the following skills:

• Planning and organization skills using the Extension Programming Model and the 4‑H Targeting Life Skills Model
• Develop organizational methods for handling data, program registrations, and files, using Microsoft Office programs, specifically Excel and Word
• Develop youth behavior management skills and hands-on instruction experience with youth ages 5-18 in various settings using the best practices for ages and stages of youth development; safety and supervision of youth are key concepts for the intern
• Built knowledge and confidence in working with youth and gain the personal reward of watching and assisting youth grow through their own learning and discovery processes
• Develop interpersonal skills through collaborative programming efforts with agents who serve PD7
• Enhance communication skills as this position requires a significant amount of verbal and written communication, promotional activities, and face-to-face contacts
• Assist the 4-H agent in the development, delivery, and evaluation of planned programs and experience various delivery modes

3. How will the intern learn about the breadth of VCE and our various program areas?

The intern will mainly work with the 4-H agent and one Unit Support Staff person housed in Clarke to gain a better understanding of programs provided by VCE and the planning that goes into quality educational community-based programs. The intern will also have an opportunity to work with the FCS and ANR agents who serve Clarke through collaborative programs. The intern will also experience the breadth of VCE and what we do by spending time in the office answering questions and working with clientele, planning programs, and being immersed in the summer VCE schedule.