Summer Internship Program: Southwest 4-H Educational Center

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

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

The intern will be working with the Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center to address design and development components of the 4-H Center facility in Abingdon, VA. While the overall project is very large it will involve 4-H Center Administration, VCE Faculty in the 13-county service area, and the 4-H Center Board of Directors.

The Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center is a 79-acre property located on Hillman Highway in Abingdon. The overall project is the 4-H Educational Center and there are components within the project that will provide greater environmental benefits to the local communities, school systems, and other user groups that take part in activities at the 4-H Center.

Specifically, Intern responsibility will be to work with 4-H Center Administration and Extension Faculty to plan, design, and implement a landscaping plan for the Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center.

The Intern will learn the importance of building relationships within the workplace and make connections related to future career paths. The intern may help create marketing and promotional materials for the project and/or Extension needs. Lastly, if scheduling or work load permits, the Intern may assist in creating and implementing horticulture-focused youth programming and a horticulture and/or landscape design themed class during 4-H Camp. The Intern will be exposed to interdisciplinary programs working and connecting with different Extension Professionals during their internship.

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

A participating intern will gain knowledge and skills in relationship building and networking with local community partners. Time management, meeting schedules, lesson planning, private and public group input discussions, and general planning activities will all be introduced as part of daily activity.

Horticulture and the field of Landscape Design will be emphasized in the development of the landscape design plan of the 4-H Center supported by VCE Faculty, and potentially design industry professionals. Customer service, marketing, and best practices when educating the public will be continually demonstrated during project development. The intern will also gain more hands-on skills in horticulture including soil sampling, landscape design, and planting demonstration. An Intern will experience the process of VCE program identification, implementation, and evaluation. The intern will gain practice in public speaking as well as tailoring programs and messages to a prospective audience. They will also learn the benefits of partnerships exemplifying that team collaboration yields more impactful results.

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

On starting their position, the Intern will receive a brief overview of VCE and the services we provide to our communities. The Intern may also aid in creating or implementing interdisciplinary programs that involve 4-H, FCS, FNP, ANR, and the Master Gardener Program giving them exposure to the many program areas. Most importantly, the Intern will be introduced to a multitude of contacts that VCE encounters between public, private, and governmental entities.