Summer Internship Program: Lunenburg County

Primary Program Area Focus: 4-H, ANR, and FCS

The Lunenburg County Virginia Cooperative Extension Office will be offering a paid Summer Intern Position for the summer of 2019. This internship will provide an excellent opportunity for an undergraduate student who has completed his or her sophomore year at a 4-year college or university (rising juniors, seniors, or those who have recently finished their degree) the opportunity to learn more about Lunenburg County and careers in Extension. While serving under the direction of experienced agents, the student will participate in real work experiences that will challenge and encourage him or her in the three main program areas of VCE: 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources, and Family & Consumer Sciences. This position is open to all students who are pursuing degrees in related subjects.

While applicants may be pursuing a degree in one of the three main program areas, their internship will cover all three – exposing them to all areas of VCE work and the interconnectedness of all efforts to support a viable and healthy local community.

Expectations for the Internship

• The intern is expected to grow their knowledge and understanding of extension and extension efforts throughout this experience
• The intern is required to work 40 hour weeks with a flexible schedule (to be determined by the agents and the intern)
• Professional conduct is required at all time as this position represents VCE as a whole
• The student is required to have their own transportation to and from the office as well as a valid driver’s license
• The intern is required to keep a journal of experiences throughout their internship

Expectations following the Internship

• The intern will complete a Record of Internship and Evaluation at the end of the experience
• The student will meet with the host agent to reflect on and discuss their experience in the context of career development
• The student will also reflect on their exposure to all areas of VCE and the many things they learned about VCE that he or she did not know before
• The intern is expected to carry his or her gained skills, knowledge, and experience with him or her into their future job and life

Lunenburg Internship Job Description

General Skills & Tasks Across Program Areas

• Work with all agents to direct program efforts to stay on track with the Unit Plan of Work
• Work with all agents to design program efforts around the needs determined in the Situation Analysis and other current sources
• Work with agents and administrative assistant to: take registrations, organize program supplies, develop activities or handouts, take calls and answer where possible or direct to the proper person, speak to groups, lead exercises and activities with different groups of people in different settings
• Work with the Extension Leadership Council

4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT – 33%

Working with Dillon Robinson, 4-H Agent

Objective: Understand the many ways in which 4-H contributes to overall community viability

Tasks & Efforts

As the intern, you will work in the following categories:

4-H Camp

• Develop mailings and documents for camp   
• Take registrations
• Develop educational activities for camp
• Organize camp supplies
• Attend and assist with 4-H Camp

Clubs (Shooting Sports, Homeschool Club)

• Assist with the organization, development, and delivery of activities for clubs

Summer Day Camps (Cloverbuds, FUNtastic, STEM, Zoo Snooze, and Horse Day Camps)

• Assist in the planning and development of variety of summer day camps from STEM-and heavily science based programs to just-for-fun programs
• Chaperone, volunteer, and chauffeur for transporting youth to and from locations in the state van
• Lead exercises and activities with the youth

School Program Planning

• Help develop lesson plans for the upcoming school year centered on SOL supplementation
• Help develop program kits full of supplies and needed activity materials for programs for the upcoming school year

Skills you will acquire: leadership and public speaking skills, experience working with youth, patience, organization skills, a strong grasp of the program development process, improvisation and problem-solving skills, facilitation skills, event planning skills, planning and scheduling flexibility

AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES – 33%

Working with Lindy Fimon, ANR Agent

Objective: Understand the many ways in which ANR works to enhance community viability, and the many connections and partnering organizations required to make an impact

Tasks & Efforts

Calls & Questions

• Assist agent on farm and yard visits in response to calls or questions
• Answer calls and direct questions to the proper person
• Take and mail plant and insect samples to the laboratory

Marketing, Education, & Outreach

• Work with agent to develop monthly ANR Newsletter
• Assist with management of ANR social media posts to share knowledge and prevent the repetition of common questions
• Write articles for the newspaper as necessary to share an upcoming event, a new disease outbreak, or a piece of educational information

Programs

•  Assist agent in planning, setting up, and executing field days and planned farm events
• Assist agent in the management of grant opportunities for farmers, producers, and landowners
• Work to secure sponsorship or funds for programs and particularly meals for programs
• Serve meals to attendees at programs

Research

• Assist in scouting and insect management surveys of corn or other crops   
• Help agents plan, plant, and harvest crop variety trials such as corn, soybeans, or tobacco

Skills you will acquire: public speaking skills, organization skills, meeting facilitation and program execution skills; the ability to work in all kinds of weather conditions; a basic understanding of farm equipment; a basic understanding of research and how to develop scientific research trials; basic knowledge of pesticides and pesticide training; time management and experience prioritizing needs; problem-solving, and training to think outside of the box to develop programs that truly meet the needs of an audience; a working knowledge of agriculture across Lunenburg County and the state of Virginia, connections to agricultural professionals in a variety of capacities; the skills and network to work with partner organizations to meet community needs, develop programs, and reach audiences

FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES – 33%

Working with Eric Bowen, FCS Agent (Housed in Nottoway, covers multiple counties)

Pauline Stokes, FCS Agent (Housed in Prince Edward, covers multiple counties)

Tracey Smith-Gregory, FNP Program Assistant (Housed in Charlotte, covers multiple counties)

Christine Kimbrel, SNAP-Ed Adult Prog. Asst. (Housed in Brunswick, covers multiple counties)

Objective: To understand the need for and the many ways in which FCS grows community viability through efforts in the schools and the community, with youth and adults alike

Tasks & Efforts

Food Safety

• Assist with canning & food safety demonstrations
• Assist with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training efforts
• Assist with Farmers Market safety and compliance efforts

Food & Nutrition

• Learn about MyPlate and general nutrition information
• Help agents and program assistants present information to groups of adults
• Work with agents to present information to youth in fun and simple ways

Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed)

• Learn about SNAP-Ed efforts
• Teach the public about nutrition and available programs
• Assist with SNAP-Ed programs in Lunenburg County
•  Reach underserved people

Skills you will acquire: experience working with diverse and traditionally underserved audiences, a greater understanding of health and nutrition, a greater knowledge of food safety, canning skills, teaching skills, knowledge and experience of how to develop connections with school systems and community organizations in order to get your foot in the door, program development and organization skills, self and program evaluation skills

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

• Hours fluctuate – Extension agents rarely work a steady 8-5 week, often having programs and events on nights and weekends. Because of this, schedules can fluctuate greatly, and the intern should be prepared to be flexible with their scheduling in order to get the full extension experience and participate in some key events. Please keep in mind, you will still remain within your 40 hours each week, it is just that those hours may vary.

• Working across program areas – Much like anything else in life, extension efforts do not fit perfectly into separate boxes. Extension works best when working with colleagues across program areas to 1) ascertain needs, 2) find or develop the necessary information or resources to meet those needs, and 3) grow the community together as one unit rather than in separate areas.

• Being challenged in new ways – This internship is designed to challenge you; therefore, you are not expected to know everything when you walk in the door. In fact, we encourage you to come with questions! Just take the time to prepare yourself mentally for the challenges you may face in this experience. Some of those might include: rolling with the punches and being flexible about schedule changes, coming to terms with not being an expert in everything right away (or being an expert in nothing), being a sounding board or listening ear with someone who just needs to complain or tell you about what they are going through, or even stepping out of your comfort zone to speak in front of a group or write an article for the paper. Don’t be discouraged. Ask when you do not know and enjoy this experience to be guided through a very demanding and  extremely rewarding job!

• A warm-welcoming environment – Extension runs as a team. You can expect to be accepted in any VCE office, by any VCE staff, as one of their own. Because of this, we encourage you to get to know as many VCE agents and staff as you would like, ask questions, and learn as much as you can from these experienced educators!