Summer Internship Program: Northumberland and Lancaster Counties

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

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

The summer internship for Northumberland and Lancaster counties will provide a great overview of Virginia Cooperative Extension, as well as valuable experience in developing, planning, and leading summer educational programs across 4-H, Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR), and Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS).  The intern will work under the direction of the 4-H Extension Agent, but will collaborate on programs with the ANR and FCS extension agents. 

Programs the intern will assist with include:

• Virginia On-Farm Corn Research (ongoing throughout the summer)

  • Assist with the identification of future on-farm research needs

  • Assist with research plots and field troubleshooting

  • Data collection, compilation, and analysis

• 4-H State Congress (June 18-21, 2024 at Virginia Tech)

  • Coordinating activities and general supervision of teen leaders

• 4-H Junior Camp at Jamestown 4-H Center (June 10-14, 2024)

  • Planning camp activities

  • Purchasing supplies for camp

  • Assisting with camper check-in and check-out

  • Developing and teaching a class at camp

  • Planning and assisting with teen counselor training

  • Supervising campers and counselors while at camp

• 4-H Day camps (June through August 2024)

  • Planning and implementing activities

  • Serving as assistant instructor during camps

  • Developing promotional flyers

• 4-H teacher training programs (June to August 2024)

  • Planning and implementing trainings

  • Leading lessons out of 4-H curriculums

• 4-H library storytime lesson kits (June and July 2024)

  • Development of hands on lessons and activities, correlated to the weekly storytime themes at 2 local libraries

  • Assembly of lesson kits

• Northern Neck Master Gardeners teaching garden at the Northern Neck Farm Museum

  • Assisting with the upkeep and harvesting of the vegetable garden

  • Leading educational programs with Northumberland YMCA youth at the garden and at the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Neck

• Assisting with preparation for school enrichment programs during the 2024-2025 school year

• LIFT program for seniors

  • Lead weekly exercise for seniors to improve their activities of daily living

• Healthy Food Pharmacy

  • Provide education and food demonstrations aimed at reducing risks of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer

• Financial education 

  • Plan community programs on personal finance education

  • Assist with programming for inmates with the regional jail

• Assisting with other VCE programs as needed

   

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, outside organizations, and the general public

• Organizational skills

• Crop production techniques

• Research methods and data collection

• Agronomic practice

• Curriculum development for youth

• Records management

• Risk management

• Working with youth ages 5-19

• Wouth behavior management

• Computer skills (i.e. Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Google Drive, Zoom)

• Extension program evaluation

• Experiential learning and life skills models

• Working independently

• Time management

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

The intern will truly become a part of the team in two unit extension offices, working collaboratively with two unit administrative assistants, three VCE agents (4-H, ANR, and FCS), and a part time program assistant who coordinates the Master Gardener volunteers.  The intern will attend monthly staff meetings to gain a full understanding of all VCE programming.  When appropriate, the intern will participate in webinars and conference calls with the extension agents to increase their understanding of cooperative extension and increase their skills.  This intern will be involved in programming in two different counties, and will gain experience in all program areas, delivery methods, and with several collaborating organizations (i.e. Healthy Harvest Food Bank, Lancaster Community Library, Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Neck, Northumberland Family YMCA, Northumberland Public Library, and Rappahannock Community College).  The intern will be heavily involved with the extension On-Farm Corn research initiative.  This will be a hands-on internship, from training to program implementation.