Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating Youth Programming with Jefferson County 4-H Program
Primary Topic:
Youth and Family Development
Other Topics:
No additional topic areas, only my selection from previous question
Internship Overview:
Does creating lava lamps, launching stomp rockets and making slime with kids sound like too much fun to you? This internship focuses on teaching and combines educational program development and delivery. Programming will be based on hands-on activities in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, with room for your passions to be integrated. You’ll begin your internship with partnerships based in underserved populations and will have the opportunity to create day camps and additional programming as desired. You’ll have ownership over your internship and will have the space to thrive in a self-driven environment.
Goals, Scope and Objectives:
The internship will focus on developing and evaluating STEM programming, both for current 4-H members, as well as for the Jefferson County 4-H Outreach Program. Key activities will be planning implementing and evaluating weekly and one-off STEM based activities that can taught at mentoring program meetings and, and outreach programs at local low-income housing sites, and non-profit community-based organizations. The intern will coordinate a STEM based summer camp and, and events and activities for 4-H members at the Jefferson County Fair. Toby Swaford, the campus-based mentor will work directly with the intern to help them develop these new and innovative programs, both for the weekly mentoring meetings, outreach program and for the STEM based summer camp. The intern will also develop an evaluation tool using 4-H Common Measures to assess the success of the weekly outreach program activities, and the STEM day camp.
With which stakeholder group(s) will the intern work?
The main stakeholder groups for this internship are youth who are predominantly from underserved populations. The intern will work with low-income housing authorities, and local community-based non-profits to serve a wide range of youth in Jefferson County. Though the key focus of this branch of the 4-H Outreach program serves students are at risk socio-economically, developmentally, and academically.
What student learning outcomes do you anticipate and what are the opportunities for professional development?
The intern will learn about and experience best practices for curriculum development and teaching strategies while working with diverse at-risk populations. They will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning, while practicing program development and evaluation. Throughout the internship, the student will be engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders and community partners. They will build professional relationships while practicing their networking skills while in a supportive environment.
