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Summer Internship Program: Airfield 4-H Educational Center

Orange County

Primary Program Area Focus: 4-H

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

The intern will work primarily with the Airfield 4-H Center maintenance staff and possibly 4-H Agents and campers to restore and prepare the small animal area for animals. There may be a chance for some small animal science lessons at camp later in the summer. That will depend on progress. Through the camp experience the intern will also gain a better knowledge of various programs offered in Virginia Cooperative Extension 4-H and gain an understanding of the life-skills learned at camp.

Skills, interests, and qualifications:

  •     An interest in small farm animals, animal science, animal habitats, youth     development, and local   implementation of Extension programs
  •     Some knowledge of carpentry, gardening, animal enclosures.
  •     Personal transportation (vehicle) is required. This is a remote position.
  •     Attention to detail.
  •     Ability to measure things accurately, use small hand tools and some power       tools.
  •     Experience in photography or social media is a plus

Job Description and Expectations

  •     Outdoor work in the small animal area fixing and maintaining small animal     pens, sheds, rabbit hutches and chicken coops, fences and roofs during     M-F office hours unless otherwise specified.
  •     Outdoor work on the raised garden beds. Planting vegetables if possible.
  •     Assist with administrative duties related to ordering supplies for repairs.
  •     The ability to effectively communicate with both youth and adults.
  •     Intern will assist with small animal science classes if available during     summer camp programming.  
  •     Assist in 4-H Junior Camp planning and attending Airfield 4-H     Camp                              .
  •     Learn about and prepare some small animal education programming at     regional meetings or from local 4-H agents/local 4-H clubs/ARECS
  •     Create educational materials on small farm animals and interpretive signage     for animal pens

4-H Programming

  •      Assist in planning for Junior 4-H Camp
  •     Coordinate, plan and implement activities related to small animal habitat     programs at camp
  •     Attend 4-H Camp in 2023
  •     Design, create, and write a two 4-H newsletter articles and a weekly social     media post for Facebook
  •     Prepare and present a final oral presentation at the end of summer.

2.  Describe the knowledge / skills you expect the intern to gain from this experience.
The intern will gain an appreciation for and understanding of Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Airfield 4-H Summer Camp Programs. The individual will learn about animal display development, repair, and site safety. They will gain trade skills in painting, carpentry, possibly plumbing, and fencing. They will learn about organization and planning for ordering supplies. They will create new lesson plans for teaching about small animal science and/or gardening.  It will be an opportunity for a self-directed project related to urban agriculture and animal husbandry.  Intern will gain public speaking skills and experience working with diverse audiences. Additionally, they will be given tasks where they will need to demonstrate the ability to perform without direct and constant supervision. The intern will also participate in a mid-term review of their internship experience to ensure that the expectations of both the intern and VCE unit are being met.

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

The Southeast 4-H Educational Center (Airfield) offers the intern the ability to see their work completed and how it can play a role within a community through all programming areas of Extension, with a focus on 4-H programming. Additionally, the intern will learn from VCE agents who teach small animal science in the classrooms, in local 4-H clubs, and to the community. The intern will get hands-on experience working with the agents to see the various ways programs are delivered and offered. At the conclusion of the internship, the intern will deliver an oral presentation covering their experiences, knowledge gained, and skills enhanced.

Travel reimbursement for automobile mileage is provided when for work if a state vehicle is not available. Programmatic oversight will be provided by Bubba Barrett, the Program Director, and Kathy Guindon.