Summer Internship Program: York County/Poquoson City

Primary Program Area Focus:   4-H

1. Describe your plans for this internship.  (i.e. What specifically will the intern be doing?)
Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) is a needs driven organization that connects residents with university expertise to help address community challenges.  The 4-H program, one of VCE's core focus areas, plays a vital role in positive youth development by building leadership, citizenship, and life skills.

During this internship, the selected candidate will be an essential part of preparing supporting, and delivering youth programs in York County and the City of Poquoson, VA.

The chosen candidate will need to be able to work 40 hours a week, including some Saturdays and evenings.  They will need to arrange their own housing and reliable transportation to get to our office in York County, VA.  Any travel incurred beyond the daily commute will be reimbursed through the office according to applicable policy.  Basic computer and communication skills are essential.

Key Responsibilities may include:

• Assisting with 4-H Camp preparations, including organizing camper rosters, t-shirts, creating room assignments, and materials such as name tags.
• Supporting and helping facilitate several Saturday Teen Leader Trainings, gaining hands-on experience in youth leadership development.
• Attending and serving in a leadership support role during the weeklong overnight 4-H camp.
• Assisting the VCE office with program coordination, communication, and general operations.
• Creating program support materials, such as educational handouts, promotional media, rainy-day activities, or designing new free-time camp activities.

This internship is ideal for students interested in education youth development, community outreach, leadership, communication or program management.

2. Describe the knowledge / skills you expect the intern to gain from this experience.
This internship provides a unique combination of professional office experience and hands-on community engagement.  The intern will gain:

• Practical experience in youth development and volunteer management.
• Exposure to leadership strategies, group facilitation, and positive youth engagement.
• Skills in program planning, organization, and event coordination.
• Experience collaborating with staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• Opportunities to strengthen communication, problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork.

By the end of the internship, the student will have a well-rounded understanding of how community-based educational programs are designed, promoted, and delivered.

3. How will the intern learn about the breadth of VCE and our various program areas?
This internship offers an inside look at VCE's diverse programming.  In addition to 4-H youth development, our office supports Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) in an urban environment, providing horticultural education, environmental learning opportunities, and community outreach.

The intern will have opportunities to:

• Observe and participate in ANR Programming, environmental education and outreach, and horticulture-focused activities.
• Learn how VCE integrates science-based resources into educational programs for local residents using Land-Grant University Expertise.
• Interact with specialists, volunteers, and clients across multiple program areas.

Through these experiences, the intern will gain a broad understanding of VCE's mission and the many ways it serves the community.