4-H…a part of Cooperative 4-H…a part of Cooperative ExtensionExtension
Over 3,000 county offices
National Institute of Food & Ag (part of USDA)
109 Land-grant Universities
Resources from federal, state, and local governments
Virginia Cooperative Extension Virginia Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development 4-H Youth Development
Airfield 4-H Center
4-H Camping & ConferencingSchool
Groups
4-H Jr. Summer Camp User Groups; 4-H and Non 4-H
Specialty Camps
Virginia Tech, Virginia State
Virginia 4-H
Trainings & Conferences
NOVA 4-H Center
Jamestown4-H Center
W.E. Skelton 4-H Center
Holiday Lake4-H Center
SWVA 4-H Center
Jamestown 4-H CenterJamestown 4-H Center
Northumberland
Lancaster
Middlesex
Mathews
YorkNewport
News
Hampton
So…. What do I do?So…. What do I do?
• ProgrammingProgramming
• StaffingStaffing
• TrainingTraining
• Risk ManagementRisk Management
• Department BudgetDepartment Budget
• PLAY!!!!!PLAY!!!!!
Delivering Programming with three main models in mind:Delivering Programming with three main models in mind:
•Developing Life SkillsDeveloping Life Skills
•Utilizing Experiential Learning ProcessUtilizing Experiential Learning Process
•Promoting Character Counts!Promoting Character Counts!
Position Title: Program DirectorPosition Title: Program Director• Manage all Center ProgrammingManage all Center Programming
– Jr. Summer Camp Programs (ages 9-13)Jr. Summer Camp Programs (ages 9-13)– Weekend/ Day Specialty Camps (theme specific, i.e.: Science Camp, Weekend/ Day Specialty Camps (theme specific, i.e.: Science Camp,
Cloverbuds, Teen Leadership, Arts Camp)Cloverbuds, Teen Leadership, Arts Camp)– Environmental Outreach (community organizations, parks & rec, Environmental Outreach (community organizations, parks & rec,
schools)schools)– On-site Outdoor Education (schools, user-groups)On-site Outdoor Education (schools, user-groups)
• Manage all Center Programming PersonnelManage all Center Programming Personnel– Staff recruiting, hiring, training, supervision (seasonal, part-time, and Staff recruiting, hiring, training, supervision (seasonal, part-time, and
year-round staff & volunteers)year-round staff & volunteers)
• State InitiativesState Initiatives– ACCT Challenge Course Manager, ACA Visitor, Red Cross, OAC, NREEACCT Challenge Course Manager, ACA Visitor, Red Cross, OAC, NREE– Statewide training instruction (outdoor adventure, challenge course, Statewide training instruction (outdoor adventure, challenge course,
etc.)etc.)
• Departmental Budgetary NeedsDepartmental Budgetary Needs– Staffing, supplies, professional development, travel, etc.Staffing, supplies, professional development, travel, etc.
• Marketing, Conferences, Professional DevelopmentMarketing, Conferences, Professional Development
• Coordinate support services amongst departmentsCoordinate support services amongst departments
School School & & Camps!Camps!!!!!
9 Weeks of Jr. Summer Camp9 Weeks of Jr. Summer Camp
8 Weekend Specialty Camps
Outdoor Adventure & Outreach
STAFFSTAFF
Staff 101Staff 101• Summer = supervision & support, Summer = supervision & support,
recruiting & evaluatingrecruiting & evaluating
• Fall = University visits, performance Fall = University visits, performance review, staff involvementreview, staff involvement
• Winter = interviews & the magic Winter = interviews & the magic puzzlepuzzle
• Spring = prep & trainingSpring = prep & training
Professional OrganizationsProfessional Organizations
National AssociationsNational Associations• American Camp Association American Camp Association
(ACA)(ACA)
• Association of Challenge Association of Challenge Course Technology (ACCT)Course Technology (ACCT)
• Virginia Recreation & Parks Virginia Recreation & Parks Society (VRPS)Society (VRPS)
• National Recreation & Park National Recreation & Park Association (NRPA)Association (NRPA)
• National Camping Institute National Camping Institute (NCI)(NCI)
• Community OrganizationsCommunity Organizations
4-H Associations4-H Associations• Organization of VA 4-H Organization of VA 4-H
Educational Centers Educational Centers (OV4HEC)(OV4HEC)
• Natural Resource Natural Resource Environmental Education Environmental Education (NREE)(NREE)
• Outdoor Adventure Outdoor Adventure Committee (OAC)Committee (OAC)
• Virginia Association of 4-H Virginia Association of 4-H Extension Agents (VA4HEA)Extension Agents (VA4HEA)
• National Association of 4-H National Association of 4-H Extension Agents (NAE4HA)Extension Agents (NAE4HA)
• Volunteers Leader AssociationVolunteers Leader Association
Professional DevelopmentProfessional DevelopmentNational CertificationsNational Certifications•American Camp Association Visitor (ACA)American Camp Association Visitor (ACA)
•Certified Parks & Rec Professional (CPRP)Certified Parks & Rec Professional (CPRP)
•Association of Challenge Course Technology (ACCT)Association of Challenge Course Technology (ACCT)
•American Canoe Association (ACA)American Canoe Association (ACA)
•American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA)American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA)
•American Red Cross – certification and instructor statusAmerican Red Cross – certification and instructor status
4-H Certifications4-H Certifications•Shooting Sports – Archery, RifleShooting Sports – Archery, Rifle
• Character Counts!Character Counts!
•Master Camp Director TrainingMaster Camp Director Training
•Outdoor Adventure Camp Training Outdoor Adventure Camp Training
•Equine and Livestock TrainingEquine and Livestock Training
How can I get involved?How can I get involved?
Become a 4-H volunteer
4-H Program Director
4- H Intern
4-H Extension Agent
4-H Seasonal Professional
4-H Summer Staff
4-H Part-Time Educator
Entry-level Program Position
Realities of our fieldRealities of our field
During CollegeDuring College• Obtain as much volunteer and Obtain as much volunteer and
work experience (even part-work experience (even part-time or seasonal)time or seasonal)
• Start an activity Start an activity log/professional portfolio – the log/professional portfolio – the sooner the better, and easier!sooner the better, and easier!
• Join organizations – it’s never Join organizations – it’s never too early to make connections too early to make connections and get your name out thereand get your name out there
Post CollegePost College• Apply, apply, apply – YOU make Apply, apply, apply – YOU make
opportunities happen, they don’t opportunities happen, they don’t come knocking on your doorcome knocking on your door
• Stay involved in your community, Stay involved in your community, your school, with your passionsyour school, with your passions
• Remain connected – phone calls, Remain connected – phone calls, emails, LinkedIn, Facebook. emails, LinkedIn, Facebook. Out of sight, out of mind…. Out of sight, out of mind….
• It’s got to be your PASSIONIt’s got to be your PASSION
• Fine balance of fulfillment versus pay….don’t expect 50 G’s straight out Fine balance of fulfillment versus pay….don’t expect 50 G’s straight out of collegeof college
• Longevity post-college is smiled upon Longevity post-college is smiled upon • Diversity in experience and training goes a long way – set yourself up Diversity in experience and training goes a long way – set yourself up
to be marketable in multiple areas, ie: marketing, low ropes, to be marketable in multiple areas, ie: marketing, low ropes, managementmanagement
Marlie SmithMarlie Smith
Program DirectorProgram Director
Jamestown 4-H CenterJamestown 4-H [email protected]
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