Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), including 4-H
Virginia Cooperative Extension Contact: Adam Downing - adowning(at)vt.edu
Project Background
Virginia Cooperative Extension is part of the national land-grant university system, formed in 1914. Two of its four main program areas are: 1) Agriculture and Natural Resources to help sustain the profitability of agricultural and forestry production and enhance and protect the quality of our land and water resources; and 2) 4-H Youth Development to provide comprehensive youth development programs to educates young people, ages 5 to 18, through a variety of experiential techniques that encourage hands-on, active learning of leadership, citizenship and life skills.
Virginia Cooperative Extension is part of the national land-grant university system, formed in 1914. Two of its four main program areas are: 1) Agriculture and Natural Resources to help sustain the profitability of agricultural and forestry production and enhance and protect the quality of our land and water resources; and 2) 4-H Youth Development to provide comprehensive youth development programs to educates young people, ages 5 to 18, through a variety of experiential techniques that encourage hands-on, active learning of leadership, citizenship and life skills.
ED (Education) Activities with Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), including 4-H
Events & Assistance
ORMN volunteers assist VCE staff at public events and with other staffing needs, such as assisting with registration of attendees, preparing information folders, placing traffic signs, setting up and staffing exhibits, directing visitor flow and answering questions.
ORMN volunteers assist VCE staff at public events and with other staffing needs, such as assisting with registration of attendees, preparing information folders, placing traffic signs, setting up and staffing exhibits, directing visitor flow and answering questions.
- Locations: Varies.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: Involvement in this activity may include exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, poison ivy, snakes and insect bites/stings.
- Special Requirements: May need to be able to deal with the public. If youth are involved, ORMN volunteers must review the Risk Management policy on the Virginia Master Naturalist website, paying special attention to the “Above Suspicion Policy.”
- Time Commitment: Varies.
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Waverly Yowell Afterschool Adventure Program
ORMN Activity Contact: Carolyn Smith - catheal(at)mac.com
The Waverly Yowell Afterschool Adventure Program members, who are high school students, are clearing, cleaning up and removing trash, debris and invasive species from an area behind the Waverly Yowell School in Madison, VA. The Waverly Yowell Afterschool Adventure Program goals include protection of the Robinson River watershed, design and installation of a nature trail, design and installation of a pollinator garden planted with native plants. ORMN volunteers will assist the members of the Waverly Yowell Afterschool Adventure Program in developing the design of the pollinator garden and selecting the best native plants for the local ecosystem. The Waverly Yowell Afterschool Adventure Program sponsor is Kris Jarvis - kris.jarvis(at)comcast.net
ORMN Activity Contact: Carolyn Smith - catheal(at)mac.com
The Waverly Yowell Afterschool Adventure Program members, who are high school students, are clearing, cleaning up and removing trash, debris and invasive species from an area behind the Waverly Yowell School in Madison, VA. The Waverly Yowell Afterschool Adventure Program goals include protection of the Robinson River watershed, design and installation of a nature trail, design and installation of a pollinator garden planted with native plants. ORMN volunteers will assist the members of the Waverly Yowell Afterschool Adventure Program in developing the design of the pollinator garden and selecting the best native plants for the local ecosystem. The Waverly Yowell Afterschool Adventure Program sponsor is Kris Jarvis - kris.jarvis(at)comcast.net
- Location: 1809 N Main St, Madison, VA 22727. Click for directions. Enter the northern-most Waverly Yowell driveway off of Rt. 29B, drive to the left around the brick building, turn right at the ball field and drive up to a graveled area behind the cafeteria.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: None known.
- Special Requirements: As with all 4-H Projects, olunteers must sign the Standards of Behavior for Virginia 4-H Volunteers, and complete and sign the 4-H Volunteer Form. ORMN volunteers must review the Risk Management policy on the Virginia Master Naturalist website, paying special attention to the “Above Suspicion Policy.”
- Time Commitment: Varies.
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Orange County Ag Day and Farm Tour
ORMN Activity Contact: Carolyn Smith - catheal(at)mac.com
For over 20 years, Orange County 3rd-graders have learned about Orange County's largest industry - agriculture - in Ag Day and Farm Tour field trips planned and managed by Virginia Cooperative Extension's Orange office, with financial support from Virginia Farm Bureau and other support from Orange County Public Schools. Rotating through 12 stations that correlate to third grade Standards of Learning, students learn about various aspects of agriculture and agricultural commodities. ORMN volunteers may be able to help staff the Forestry or Soils stations to support this activity that serves over 500 youth each year.
ORMN Activity Contact: Carolyn Smith - catheal(at)mac.com
For over 20 years, Orange County 3rd-graders have learned about Orange County's largest industry - agriculture - in Ag Day and Farm Tour field trips planned and managed by Virginia Cooperative Extension's Orange office, with financial support from Virginia Farm Bureau and other support from Orange County Public Schools. Rotating through 12 stations that correlate to third grade Standards of Learning, students learn about various aspects of agriculture and agricultural commodities. ORMN volunteers may be able to help staff the Forestry or Soils stations to support this activity that serves over 500 youth each year.
- Location: Virginia Tech's Northern Piedmont Center (formerly Northern Piedmont Agricultural Research & Extension Center),14471 Research Rd, Orange, VA 22960. Click for directions.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: None known.
- Special Requirements: As with other 4-H Projects, volunteers may have to sign the Standards of Behavior for Virginia 4-H Volunteers, and complete and sign the 4-H Volunteer Form. ORMN volunteers must review the Risk Management policy on the Virginia Master Naturalist website, paying special attention to the “Above Suspicion Policy.”
- Time Commitment: Orange County Ag Day field trips occur over two days during the school year. Hours each day - 9:30 am – 1:30 pm.
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Rappahannock 4-H Day Camp Creeks & Critters
ORMN Activity Contact: Ed Dorsey - ebdorsey(at)aol.com
The purpose of “Creeks and Critters” is to educate youth on the value of clean streams by conducting a survey of macro invertebrates present in healthy streams. Activities are designed to show the relationship between stream health and various species that depend upon them. ORMN volunteers help youth collect and sort macro invertebrates to determine which and how many are sensitive, or tolerant of pollution.
ORMN Activity Contact: Ed Dorsey - ebdorsey(at)aol.com
The purpose of “Creeks and Critters” is to educate youth on the value of clean streams by conducting a survey of macro invertebrates present in healthy streams. Activities are designed to show the relationship between stream health and various species that depend upon them. ORMN volunteers help youth collect and sort macro invertebrates to determine which and how many are sensitive, or tolerant of pollution.
- Location: Northern Virginia 4-H Center, 600 4-H Center Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630. Click for directions.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: Involvement in this activity may include exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, poison ivy, snakes and insect bites/stings. ORMN volunteers will enter the water of local streams, where there are slip hazards.
- Special Requirements: As with all 4-H Projects, volunteers must sign the Standards of Behavior for Virginia 4-H Volunteers, and complete and sign the 4-H Volunteer Form. ORMN volunteers must review the Risk Management policy on the Virginia Master Naturalist website, paying special attention to the “Above Suspicion Policy.”
- Time Commitment: Rappahannock 4-H Day Camp is held Monday – Thursday, 9:00 am to noon, generally the second week of June annually. Several monitoring sessions are held each day.
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The Socrates Project - Poisonous Plants in Virginia
ORMN Activity Contact: Alfred E. Goossens - socratesORMN(at)gmail.com
This project started in 2015 with the goal of collecting data on poisonous plants of Virginia and publishing the information to educate the public and lower the incidence of exposure to poisonous plants. The first downloadable publication was released in March 2018. Project volunteers are now working on a second, expanded edition targeted for publication in late 2019. (The publication may be accessed on this website under the Members menu by scrolling down to The Socrates Project.)
ORMN Activity Contact: Alfred E. Goossens - socratesORMN(at)gmail.com
This project started in 2015 with the goal of collecting data on poisonous plants of Virginia and publishing the information to educate the public and lower the incidence of exposure to poisonous plants. The first downloadable publication was released in March 2018. Project volunteers are now working on a second, expanded edition targeted for publication in late 2019. (The publication may be accessed on this website under the Members menu by scrolling down to The Socrates Project.)
ED (Education) Activities:
Collect data and pictures of poisonous plants that grow in the wild in Virginia for use in the Socrates Project.
Collect data and pictures of poisonous plants that grow in the wild in Virginia for use in the Socrates Project.
- Location: Most work can be done from home.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: None
- Special Requirements: Computer skills, an ability to collect data from the internet and other sources, write data sheets and proofread.
- Time Commitment: Varies
- Location: Schools, organization meetings, etc.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: None
- Special Requirements: Mastery of the general topic, ability to communicate effectively, interest in an educational role. If youth are involved, ORMN volunteers must review the Risk Management policy on the Virginia Master Naturalist website, paying special attention to the "Above Suspicion Policy."
- Time Commitment: Varies
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ST (Stewardship) Activities with Virginia Cooperative Extenstion (VCE), including 4-H
Madison 4-H Adventure Club - not currently an active project
The Madison 4-H Adventure Club members, who are high school students, are clearing, cleaning up and removing trash, debris and invasive species from an area behind the Waverly Yowell School in Madison, VA. The Club goals include protection of the Robinson River watershed, design and installation of a nature trail, design and installation of a pollinator garden planted with native plants. Volunteers will assist the members of the Madison 4-H Adventure Club in clearing and removing brush and debris, designing and installing a nature trail, installing a pollinator garden and other features of this proposed natural area. The Madison 4-H Adventure Club sponsor is Kris Jarvis. kris.jarvis@comcast.net
The Madison 4-H Adventure Club members, who are high school students, are clearing, cleaning up and removing trash, debris and invasive species from an area behind the Waverly Yowell School in Madison, VA. The Club goals include protection of the Robinson River watershed, design and installation of a nature trail, design and installation of a pollinator garden planted with native plants. Volunteers will assist the members of the Madison 4-H Adventure Club in clearing and removing brush and debris, designing and installing a nature trail, installing a pollinator garden and other features of this proposed natural area. The Madison 4-H Adventure Club sponsor is Kris Jarvis. kris.jarvis@comcast.net
- Location: 1809 N Main St, Madison, VA 22727. Click for directions. Enter the northern-most Waverly Yowell driveway off of Rt. 29B, drive to the left around the brick building, turn right at the ball field and drive up to a graveled area behind the cafeteria.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: None known.
- Special Requirements: As with all 4-H Projects, olunteers must sign the Standards of Behavior for Virginia 4-H Volunteers, and complete and sign the 4-H Volunteer Form. ORMN volunteers must review the Risk Management policy on the Virginia Master Naturalist website, paying special attention to the “Above Suspicion Policy.”
- Time Commitment: Varies.
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