Greene County
Primary Program Area Focus: 4-H/Agriculture and Natural Resources
Describe the plans for this internship. (I.e. what specifically will the intern are doing?)
As part of the VCE-Greene staff, the summer intern will have the opportunity to work with 4-H Agent and Unit Coordinator Kathy Alstat, Cathy Kloetzli, (Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent Albemarle), as well as other Extension Agents serving Greene and Planning District 10. This may include assisting with 4-H summer programming, visiting local farms and businesses, working with farmers markets and local foods networks, or assisting with family or community programs. The intern will be responsible for planning and implementing one or more special projects that would involve Agriculture, Youth Development, and Family and Consumer sciences serving the Greene Community. This will be under the guidance of the Extension Agents serving the unit. The intern will be responsible for marketing their unit programs through social media (Facebook, YouTube or Twitter) and formal news media and as well as assisting current agents and staff in promoting Extension programs locally.
Describe the knowledge / skills that the intern is expected to gain from this experience.
Interns will first learn day-to-day office and Extension programming procedures by shadowing and assisting agents and staff. The intern will learn Extension program planning, implementation and evaluation through the Extension Programming cycle. This process will include a needs assessment with stakeholders and discussion with members of the local Extension Leadership Council, planning and resource management, advertising and promotion, implementing the program or activity and evaluating the program. The intern will learn to find and use Extension resources and publications and evaluation tools, interact with clientele and recruit volunteers or staff to assist them. The intern would gain experience by assisting agents, then choose one or more special projects to develop independently, and budgeting time to complete the program.
How will the intern learn about the breadth of VCE and our various program areas?
Through 4-H, the intern will have the opportunity to attend 4-H Congress and 4-H Summer Camp, as well as selectively work with summer programming and club management. The intern will be encouraged to attend and assist with Agriculture and Natural Resources, FCS and Community Viability Programming within the county, as well as within the planning district and will be encouraged to shadow agents and staff in other units. The intern would also be encouraged to collaborate with other summer interns in the planning district on programs that could benefit a larger area.