Summer Internship Program: Fauquier County

Primary Program Area Focus: 4-H, ANR

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

The intern will work primarily with the 4-H Agents, the ANR agent and the horticulture agent as well as staff to gain a better knowledge of the various programs offered in Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Skills, Interests, Qualifications

• An interest in agriculture, youth development, animal science, horticulture and local implementation of Extension programs
• Some knowledge of gardening, youth programming, STEM and animal science. 
• Personal computer, WiFi access, and personal transportation (vehicle) are required as this is not a remote position
• Attention to detail 
• Marketing experience in photography, video creation, or social media is a plus

Job Description and Expectations

• In-person work in the office during office hours and other duties as assigned which may include evenings and weekends outside of the office.
• Assist with administrative and marketing duties
• The ability to effectively communicate with both youth and adults, internally and externally
• Intern will work, travel and assist with youth livestock programming including the Fauquier County Fair, Northern District Livestock Show, and other related tasks as assigned. 
      Northern District Livestock Show June 1st
      Fauquier County Fair week of July 15 – July 19
• Intern will assist in 4-H youth development programming including Junior 4-H camp, Summer day camps, and assistance with 4-H clubs and events as assigned.
      June 30 - July 4, 2024
• Intern will assist with program development and implementation of youth day camps, summer of 2024. Tentative summer camp weeks listed below:
      Week of June 17 – June 20
      Week of July 22 – July 26
      Week of August 5 – August 9

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 and the program areas that are served in Fauquier County. The intern will learn how to plan and deliver experiential learning programs for youth age 9 – 18 working with community partners and volunteers. The individual will learn some horticultural, animal science, and FCS content as well through assistance and preparations for programs.  They will learn time management skills as they balance planning and time at events with other extension activities. They will also learn about partnership development as they work with other local organizations to offer programs. The 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. 

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

The Fauquier Extension Office offers the intern the ability to see the work done and role within a community through all programming areas of Extension, including 4-H youth development, ANR, and horticulture programming. The intern will be exposed to programs that Extension offers in an urban setting in Virginia through individual and cross-collaborative work with extension agents. Additionally, the intern will learn about the importance of community partners and volunteers and how to establish and foster those relationships. The intern will get hands-on experience working with the agents to see the various ways programs are delivered and offered.