Opportunity: Summer Program Staff

The Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Abingdon, Virginia whose mission is to empower youth and adults through experiential skills building programs; day and residential camping programs; and educational and cultural outreach partnerships.  

Through Junior 4-H Camp, the SWVA Center serves up to 2,000 youth each summer from our 13-county service area that includes Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe Counties.

The SWVA Center provides an affordable, and therefore accessible, extra-curricular educational experience with caring teen and adult mentors that is unique to our region. By joining our summer program staff team, you can be a part of providing transformative positive experiences for these youth.

Application process

Our Summer Program Staff application is online this year! To see what the Summer Program Staff Application entails, click here. Now that you have reviewed the application click the button below to fill out the application on JotForm.

The deadline for submitting your application is 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, December 1st to be considered for our first round of interviews. 

Interviews will be scheduled and held via ZOOM between December 18-20, 2023.

If you have questions regarding the position expectations, employment at the 4-H Center or application process, please contact Abbigail Moore, Program Director, at (276) 258-7026 or abbigail20@vt.edu

APPLICANT PROFILE  

SWVA 4-H Center seasonal program staff are at least 18 years old by May 1st of the summer season. A team of 12-22 program staff help to facilitate summer camp programming from late May through early August, with mandatory training held in mid May. While not required, most applicants have completed at least one year of post-secondary education at a college/university, trade school or internship. Applicants should have some work and/or volunteer experience, and it is recommended to have had some leadership experience in an educational setting or in working with youth. Previous 4-H and previously camp experience is not required. Regardless of your previous experience, successful employment at the 4-H Center requires certain qualities and values, including but not limited to:

  • Respect

  • Positive attitude

  • Kindness

  • Patience

  • Creativity & flexibility

  • Integrity

  • Collaboration / team-oriented

  • Willingness to learn & grow

  • Values diversity & celebrates differences

  • Leadership

We believe that 4-H Center programs and services provide an important opportunity to positively impact our community. For that reason, a commitment to being kind, respectful, and accepting toward all participants, partners, stakeholders, and all others with which one may interact is a critical requirement for success as a summer program staff.

Please note that the 4-H Center will assist successful applicants in acquiring specific training and/or certifications required for some staff positions.

POSITION BENEFITS

  • Weekly salary

  • Lodging (basic hotel-style room with private bath to share with at least 1 other summer staff)

  • Meals (provided week days during training and camp programming)

  • Access to kitchenette and wireless internet

  • Most weekends off (staff will be paid when needed/scheduled for weekend programs)