Summer Internship Program: New Kent County

Primary Program Area Focus:   4-H

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

The summer internship for New Kent County will provide a great overview of Virginia Cooperative Extension, as well as valuable experience in developing, planning, and leading experiential education programs across 4-H. The intern will work under the direction of the 4-H Extension Agent.

Programs the intern will learn about and attend include:

• 4-H State Congress
  • coordinating activities and general supervision of teen leaders
• 4-H Junior Camp at Jamestown 4-H Center
  • plan camp activities
  • plan and assist with pre-camp and camp logistics
  • assist with camper check-in and check-out
  • develop and teach a class at Jr. camp
  • plan and assist with teen counselor training
  • supervise campers and teen counselors while at camp
• 4-H Day camps
  • coordinate, plan and implement activities
  • assemble camp supplies
  • instruct camp workshop(s)
  • provide supervision and behavior modeling to youth campers

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

• The intern will gain knowledge/skills in:
• Interpersonal and communication skills both within VCE and with outside organizations
• Organizational skills
• Curriculum development for youth
• Records management
• Risk management
• Working with youth ages 5-18
• Youth behavior management
• Computer skills (i.e. Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Extension program evaluation
• Experiential learning and life skills models
• Working independently
• Facilitating leadership development among youth
• Time management
• Civil Rights compliance

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

Specific focus will be given to ensure the intern learns about and understands VCE as a whole. The intern will attend monthly staff and ELC meetings, where he/she will learn about other components of VCE. This intern will be involved in programming and will be gain experience in all program areas, delivery methods, and collaborations with outside organizations. This will be a hands-on internship, from training to program implementation. They will also observe and participate in a variety of delivery modes specific to youth programming, including residential camps, day camps, clubs, and leadership trainings. When appropriate, the intern will participate in webinars and conference calls with the 4-H agent to increase their understanding of cooperative extension and increase his/her skills.