Get Involved
Virginia Cooperative Extension relies on volunteers to accomplish its mission. We believe that active citizen involvement in our programs makes a difference in our success. The work of volunteers at the local level helps us leverage our paid faculty and staff resources into a much greater impact for the people of Virginia. There are many ways you can get involved with us. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss available opportunities.
We Want to Hear From You!
Virginia Cooperative Extension is interested in listening to your ideas of local issues and needs that VCE could address. Your input is valuable to us, as it helps us stay in touch with the pulse of the community. We are constantly striving to keep our educational programs relevant to citizens needs. We invite you to contact any of the Extension Agents or any of the county ELC members to share your ideas.
Mecklenburg County Extension Leadership Council
Virginia Cooperative Extension values citizen involvement in determining, delivering and evaluating our educational programs. One of the most important ways is by involving citizens as members of the County Extension Leadership Council. The mission of the Extension Leadership Council is to advance and promote the educational program of our local extension program. We strive to have an ELC membership that reflects the make-up of the county population. ELC members can be individuals with varying degrees of familiarity with and usage of Extension programs. If you are interested in learning more about how you can become involved with the Mecklenburg Extension Leadership Council, contact our office.
4-H Volunteers
4-H is committed to assisting youth, and those adults working with them, in acquiring the knowledge, life skills, and attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, contributing, and productive members of society. The central theme of 4-H education is "learn by doing." 4-H is characterized as being community centered, volunteer led, extension staff supervised, research based, home and family oriented, publicly and privately funded and responsive to change. If you want to learn how you can be involved as a 4-H volunteer, contact the Mecklenburg Extension office.
Extension Master Gardener Volunteers
Extension Master Gardeners (VCE-MGs) are volunteers with Extension dedicated to working with the community to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices through sustainable landscape management educational programs.
To become a VCE Master Gardener, individuals must attend at least 50 hours of classroom instruction and then contribute a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer service conducting VCE horticulture-based, education programs. These initial 100 hours must be completed in one year. At the end of the year, they have earned the title of VCE Master Gardener.
The South Central Master Gardener Association, comprised of Master Gardeners from Brunswick, Mecklenburg, Lunenburg and Nottoway counties, sponsors the Master Gardener Training classes on even years. Other activities include workshops for the public, informational booths at local events, answering home horticulture calls, youth programs, programs for the elderly and disabled, home visits, plants sales, and continuing education.
Becoming a Master Gardener will provide unlimited opportunity to increase your horticultural knowledge and experience through fun and exciting activities.
For more information on becoming a Master Gardener, contact the Mecklenburg Extension Office at 434/738-6191 x4371.
Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Food Volunteers
Master Food Volunteers (MFVs) expand the Family and Consumer Sciences Program throughout Mecklenburg County. These volunteers serve as partners with Virginia Cooperative Extension by volunteering to help provide programs on nutrition, health, wellness, food safety, and physical activity. Through these programs , long-term objectives are to decrease rates of chronic disease, decrease rates of obesity, and improve the health and quality of life for the residents of Mecklenburg County.
To become a VCE Master Food Volunteer, individuals must complete at least 30 hours of classroom instruction and training in nutrition, health, wellness, food safety, and physical activity. They must then return 30 hours of volunteer time within the community in the next year.
Volunteers help support Extension’s Family and Consumer Sciences Agents through education and outreach efforts. Opportunities for Master Food Volunteer Service include, but are not limited to the following: food demonstrations, cooking classes, support for 4-H programs, farmers market displays, grocery store displays, in-school and after-school programs, newspaper and newsletter articles, health fairs and more.
For more information on becoming a Master Food Volunteer, contact Amy Hawkins, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent, in the Mecklenburg Office at 434/738-6191 X4371.
Virginia Master Naturalists
The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Interested Virginians become Master Naturalists through training and volunteer service. If you are interested in becoming a Master Naturalist, contact the Extension Office. For more information visit http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/.