Summer Internship Program: Alleghany County

Primary Program Area Focus: 4-H, ANR

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

• 4-H:   Partner with Covington City Parks and Recreation to design and offer day camps
• FCS:  Spend time with local FCS Extension Agent
• 4-H:  4-H Camp Assistant – support agent with trainings, planning, preparing, and conducting camp.
• 4-H:  Organize and lead fundraising efforts for general 4-H programs
• 4-H:  Attend 4-H State Congress
• 4-H/AG:  Attend 4-H Community Club Meetings
• 4-H/AG:  Participate in Botetourt Fair during the 4-H/FFA Livestock Show
• AG:  Spend time with local ANR Extension Agent
• AG:  Attend monthly meetings for Mountain Soil & Water Conservation District
• Hort:  Partner with Alleghany County Parks and Recreation to design/implement a      Victory Garden/Demonstration Community Garden
• 4-H/ANR/FCS:  Provide educational programs at Covington Farmers Market.  Support SNAP program.
• Hort/Community:  Attend monthly meetings for Vision 2025 Working Gardens Group
• Hort/Community:  Help organize Garden Tour
• ANR:  Attend quarterly meeting for Alleghany Highlands Master Naturalist Chapter
• STEM/Community:  Attend monthly meetings for Industrial Heritage/Discovery Center
• Community:  Partner with Chamber of Commerce on community events
• Community:  Attend monthly meetings for Old Towne Covington
• Community:  Attend monthly meetings for Alleghany Highlands Kiwanis Chapter
• Community:  Attend monthly meetings for Covington Womans Club
• Marketing:  Develop short Extension videos to post on Alleghany Facebook and website
• Marketing:  Publish articles in local Virginian Review Newspaper
• Office Management:  Answer phones, take messages, make copies, document soil samples, plant disease, insect and weed identification. 

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

• A firsthand view of careers in Extension
• Providing community-changing work with agents who are VT/VSU faculty members.
• Public speaking experience
• Communication skills
• Marketing skills
• Networking skills
• Knowledge of VCE Programs – 4-H, ANR, Hort, FCS, Community Viability
• How to plan and implement an event
• How to plan and implement a fundraiser
• How to conduct an evaluation
• Leadership experience when working with youth and adults
• Improving soft skills

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

Through hands-on learning, online resources, and meetings.   The intern will learn how to research, plan, prepare, implement, and evaluate an Extension program in various program areas.   They will learn about the history, mission, and goals of Extension and the part we play within The Virginia Tech University and Virginia State University.  The intern will learn that our organization is research driven and volunteer led with the help of VCE agents, staff, and specialists.