The 2008 Cornell Cooperative Extension Internship Program fostered student outreach in local communities. The Cornell Cooperative Extension interns agreed to highlight their work and interests through academic profiles and a series of periodic reports, which appear below.

Katherine
Graduation Year: 2011
College: Human Ecology
Major: Human Biology, Health & Society (HBHS)
CCE Summer Internship: Family Life Development Program Assistant
Faculty Mentors/Department: Charlie Izzo and Dr. John Eckenrode, Family Life Development Center

Where did you grow up? Verona, New Jersey

Why did you decide to study at Cornell? The interdisciplinary nature of the Human Biology, Health & Society (HBHS) major was a perfect fit for my varied interests and goals, combining into one program studies in biology, nutrition, and human development.

What do you like most about your campus community? I love that I have access to not only all the opportunities a large research university can offer but also the familiarity of the smaller community in the College of Human Ecology.

When you are not studying, what do you like to do? I enjoy running, spending time with my friends, and traveling.

When did you become familiar with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the outreach mission of Cornell University? Although I’d always known of the existence of Cornell Cooperative Extension as an agent for the outreach mission of the university, I wasn’t fully aware of all it encompasses until a student gave a presentation in one of my classes about his experience with and involvement in CCE.

Why do you think outreach is important? Acknowledging that the world community can only be bettered by our continued efforts to reach out and proactively seek change is fundamental to the concept of outreach. Given the extraordinary resources of Cornell University, it is especially important to use those resources to help the community.

How did you become interested in the internship program? After hearing a presentation in a class about Cooperative Extension and attending an information session about the internship programs, I became interested in the experience that an internship at the Family Life Development Center could offer me.

What do you hope to learn more about as a part of this experience? I hope to learn more about clinical and community psychology, early childhood development, community research design and analysis, program development and evaluation, and early intervention/prevention efforts in the field of child development.

Katherine’s Internship
This summer I am working under the direction of Dr. Charlie Izzo and Dr. John Eckenrode, both at the Family Life Development Center on the Cornell campus and at C.I.D.S. (Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Developmental Services), a community agency in Chemung County that provides early developmental services to parents in that county. The main program that we are interested in there is PEIP (Prenatal/Early Infancy Program), which sends nurse home visitors to teenage mothers in Chemung County several times a month, starting during pregnancy and continuing until the child is two years old. The program aims to improve the mother’s life course, ensure optimal health and development for the child, and reduce child abuse and neglect.

I began by getting familiar with the background literature on the subject of early intervention, specifically nurse home visiting, and learning about programs that had and had not proved effective in the past. I learned that studies of the PEIP program have consistently proved its effectiveness in improving the quality of life for families in a variety of ways.

Since the first week, I have gone to Elmira, New York, to C.I.D.S. once or twice a week to learn more about their programs. I met the director of C.I.D.S. and other staff and nurses there, who oriented me to their wide-ranging programs and services. I had the opportunity to observe some nurse home visits in order to get a feel for what the programs are really like.

In the past few weeks I have collected, verified, and entered data from the PEIP Program to be later analyzed as part of a study looking at patterns and predictors of retention in the program. I have also worked on designing program evaluations for some of the parenting education classes that C.I.D.S. runs. Additionally, I have started to gather some information of use to the nurses, specifically in the area of domestic violence, in order to increase their knowledge and better equip them to do their work.

Aside from my work with the C.I.D.S. programs, I have also spent time with Dr. John Eckenrode developing an online database of literature on the prevention of child abuse.

So far, my internship has been a wonderful learning experience. It has opened my eyes to areas of community psychology and research. In the next few weeks, I look forward to continuing my work on the projects I have started.

***

This past week I have continued collecting and consolidating data from the PEIP program, working with the staff at C.I.D.S. to do so. This week has also seen some progression of the parenting education program evaluations, making them a step closer to being implemented. I have also done more research for the child abuse prevention database, looking at different programs and initiatives worldwide to prevent child maltreatment. In addition, I learned about and attended a webinar (Web-based seminar) on motivational interviewing, a way of talking with a client or patient to help facilitate behavior change. This specific technique could be relevant to some of the programs at C.I.D.S.

***

This week more work was done to refine and improve the parenting education program evaluations. I collaborated with staff at C.I.D.S. to make each instrument more accessible for the program participants. With a few more minor changes, we hope to pilot these in the programs soon. I also continued doing literature reviews in the area of child abuse prevention, focusing on professional organizations invested in the prevention of child maltreatment.

***

Over the past two weeks I have made minor revisions to the parenting education program evaluations, which should be piloted with the next set of classes starting in September. I worked with Dr. Eckenrode further on the child abuse prevention literature database and have been streamlining the information already entered. I had the opportunity last week to observe another nurse home visit while at C.I.D.S. and was able to learn more from that experience about how the nurses do their work and the range of clients they support.

I have recently become involved in an ongoing longitudinal study of the PEIP program that is currently interviewing subjects who were in the program as children and are now 27-year-old adults. The study is looking at the long-lasting effects of the program, already having interviewed these respondents previously. I am helping Dr. Eckenrode and Dr. Izzo to manage a database that will be used to request information from states about participants’ (or their children’s) involvement in Child Protective Services Investigations or foster care placements.

I am also now in the early stages of starting my own independent research with the data I have been working with from the PEIP Program. I am reviewing literature in the field and narrowing down the parameters of my project.

***

Since my last update I’ve had the opportunity to observe a parenting education class. The class is the only program that runs during the summer, and we took advantage of this to pilot the evaluations we designed a bit early. I sat in on a session of “Positive Parenting for Newborn to Twelve-Year-Olds,” which focused on typical child development from infancy through adolescence and parenting approaches most effective at each developmental stage. The following week I explained the instrument—in the form of a survey—to the class and received valuable feedback. We can now look at the participants’ survey answers and comments and prepare for full program implementation in the fall.

I also worked with the PEIP longitudinal study, helping to get packets ready to send out to states from which we are requesting information. We recently received data from a pilot run of an information collection process in New York State, and in order to make sure that the coding system in place for this process is valid and appropriate, I coded some of the received data. Drs. Eckenrode and Izzo are coding these data as well, and by comparing our work we can identify any unclear instructions or terms.

In the final days of my internship, I plan to concentrate on my research proposal and complete work on the previously mentioned projects. I am using data from the PEIP Program and am interested in looking at perinatal behaviors of women in the program before they give birth (for example, cigarette smoking) and how those behaviors are related to the mother’s psychosocial functioning while pregnant as well as the birth outcomes of her baby. This summer has definitely been an invaluable learning experience. It has been wonderful to learn about the field of community research and to see it at every level of action. Thank you to Cooperative Extension for this opportunity!


Jase
Graduation Year: 2011
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Major: Atmospheric Science
CCE Summer Internship: Climate Change Intern, Dutchess County
Faculty Mentor/Department: Art Degaetano, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science

Where did you grow up? Albany, New York

Why did you decide to study at Cornell? It was in a nice location and offered my desired field of study.

What do you like most about your campus community? There is always something happening at the campus, whether it's an athletic event, research project, or famous speaker.

When you are not studying, what do you like to do? I work for Cornell’s student radio station, WVBR. I also participate in intramural sports and am a member of the Cornell chapter of the American Meteorological Society.

When did you become familiar with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the outreach mission of Cornell University? My professor advertised the internship opportunity through Cornell Cooperative Extension during class.

Why do you think outreach is important? It affords students and others the opportunity to participate in scientific research and education.

How did you become interested in the internship program? I was intrigued by the program when I learned that they offered an internship not too far away in a field that I am extremely interested in and want to learn more about.

What do you hope to learn more about as a part of this experience? I hope to learn more about communicating scientific data and information to the public and increasing public awareness of important issues like climate change.

Jase’s Internship
The last two weeks have been very busy for me here at the Dutchess County Cooperative Extension. Last Wednesday, I attended a conference on Energy, Land Use, and Climate Change at Cornell. I learned more about how local governments and organizations are developing programs stressing smart growth and sustainability in hopes of reducing our impact on climate change. Then, on Friday, I went to a meeting of the Hudson Valley Regional Climate Change Network. At the meeting, I shared my research experience and learned from others who are studying climate change.

The two main projects I have been working on so far are updating the climate section of the Dutchess County Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) and creating a series of fact sheets on climate change. The old NRI was written in 1985, so there has been a lot of work to do, including updating old statistics and graphs, rewriting outdated sections, and adding information about climate change. The NRI is going to be my independent research project for the summer, and I will present my findings in the fall.

The fact sheets are also progressing well. I have drafted two sheets, “Our Changing Climate,” which explains the science behind climate change, and “Turning up the Heat,” which describes observed and projected impacts of climate change in the region. Next week, I hope to continue refining those two fact sheets and start another one on mitigation and what local governments can do.

Brittany
Graduation Year: 2010
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Major: Animal Science
CCE Summer Internship: Beef Cattle Intern
Faculty Mentor/Department: Mike Baker, Animal Science

Where did you grow up? I was born in New Mexico and lived there until I was six. Then we moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington, where I live now.

Why did you decide to study at Cornell? Cornell’s reputation for being one of the best agricultural universities in the nation was what attracted me to apply.  I didn’t think I would be able to afford it, but I received enough financial aid to make it possible.

What do you like most about your campus community? I enjoy the variety of people here and the cultures they bring with them. I spent my first three semesters living in the Holland International Living Center on North Campus because I loved being around people from different countries and learning from them. Even in the general community, there is a real presence of different cultures. Where else can one find an annual bhangra performance, a Native American smoke dance, Israeli dance groups, and other incredible experiences?

When you are not studying, what do you like to do? I really enjoy the outdoors. I love to bike and explore the area. Ithaca is beautiful, particularly in the summer! I also run a lot—the area’s trails are great for running. When I am not outside, I enjoy reading.

When did you become familiar with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the outreach mission of Cornell University? This internship was one of the first interactions I had with the program. I didn’t know how involved Cornell was with outreach. It’s been awesome.

Why do you think outreach is important? Universities like Cornell have a responsibility to give back to the community. They could not exist without the support of many people. Cornell needs to make itself worth the effort that people put into making it work. To me, one of the best ways it can do this is through outreach. For example, our research and experience can help farmers improve their practices.

How did you become interested in the internship program? I received an email describing the Beef Cattle Intern position. I was looking for a summer position in Ithaca that worked with production animals, and it sounded like the perfect opportunity. So far it has turned out to be a great experience.

What do you hope to learn more about as a part of this experience? My main goal, of course, is to collect all the data I need to complete my project. Outside of that, my most important focus is to gain an understanding of how beef cattle operations in New York work. I also would like to learn more about what Cornell Cooperative Extension is doing in the beef cattle industry in the state.

Brittany’s Internship

This was my first week back after a visit home. I got in Wednesday morning and spent most of the day working with some data. On Thursday, I traveled to Penn Yan, New York, for an extension seminar on composting. It was very interesting to see how this particular producer was using his manure for something beneficial. He cleaned out his barn in April, put everything on a cement pad until July. Then he put it in windrows, where it would compost for several months. The finished product was then spread on his fields. No need to buy fertilizer, and the nutrients from the manure go back to the soil. I also learned that if you do it correctly, you can even compost an entire dead cow! On Friday, I was back out at the Cornell Teaching and Research (T&R) Center taking samples.

***

This week I performed the normal sampling of pastures. I started working on ideas for my presentation at Empire Farm Days so that I can run them by Mike at our meeting next week. I have plenty of work to do in the next few weeks! On Thursday, I drove to Medina, New York, where I have been doing additional sampling. It’s a long drive but well worth the trip this time, as I not only took samples but also obtained crucial breeding herd data that I needed to complete the model. It felt like a long week, but with all I have to do before Farm Days, I’m sure the next ones will feel a lot longer!

***

A thunderstorm chased me out of a field at the T&R Center on Monday. There’s nothing like an 800m sprint for the truck to really spice up an afternoon. Wednesday was a repeat of the same thing, only this time in Medina, New York. Thankfully, I didn’t have to run for the truck this time because I was with one of the farmhands in the Kubota so we could drive out of the field. All I hear from the people I talk to is how the rain is making it impossible to get hay in, and apparently the hail has really damaged some crops for some farmers. Wednesday night I went to an extension meeting about distiller’s grain in Canandaigua, New York. It was supposed to be an educational meeting for dairy farmers to give an overview of how to feed this because it is becoming increasingly popular, particularly with the ethanol plant up in Shelby putting out fairly good-quality product. I know a lot about feeding horses, so it’s always interesting to me to learn more about feeding cattle. The day and evening activities made Wednesday a long day, so I stayed at home on Thursday and worked on data as well as my presentation for Empire Farm Days.

***

Empire Farm Days is just around the corner! My presentation is written, printed, and laminated. All I need to do is assemble the display board—I think the last time I made a display board I was in high school!

Not a bad week overall. I ended up helping to sort cattle in Medina, New York, and I didn’t get out to the T&R as much as I would’ve liked because I’ve been working hard on my presentation and wrapping up data entry. It’s time to start doing a final write up, since next week is my last week. I’m really excited for Farm Days.
    
 
Nicole
Graduation Year: 2010
College: Human Ecology
Major: Fiber Science and Apparel Design
CCE Summer Internship: Lifecycle Analysis of Textiles and Apparel
Faculty Mentor/Department: Charlotte Coffman, FS&AD

Where did you grow up? Kent County, Maryland

Why did you decide to study at Cornell? I wanted to get a great education as well as major in apparel design, which you just can’t get most anywhere else.

What do you like most about your campus community? It’s big enough so that I don’t see the same people every day, but there are smaller groups within the huge campus that I do get a chance to become familiar with.

When you are not studying, what do you like to do? I like to go out with my friends, play music, draw, bake, and be outdoors.

When did you become familiar with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the outreach mission of Cornell University? I became familiar with this program through one of the information sessions held in late spring.

Why do you think outreach is important? I think outreach is important because it connects the university to the community rather than Cornell just being “on the hill.”

How did you become interested in the internship program? A professor of mine suggested it to me when I asked her if there were any opportunities in our field on campus during the summer.

What do you hope to learn more about as a part of this experience? I hope to learn more about sustainable design and how to share what I learn with others in the New York area.

Nicole’s Internship
These past weeks I have been working on figuring out exactly where I would like to take this internship. Last Tuesday I met with the CITY Project in Binghamton, New York, which works with CCE, to talk about helping them make recycled magazine bead jewelry and re-design T-shirts. I will continue working with them as well as travel to other counties that may be interested in eco-friendly design and run a similar workshop with them.

In early July a teen focus group will be coming through to re-design some T-shirts, and I am helping with that program. I have also been looking into ways to recycle textiles beyond donating used clothing to second-hand stores so that the amount of waste going to landfills is decreased, and also will hopefully be conducting interviews through Cornell eClips.

Christian
Graduation Year: 2010
College: Human Ecology
Major:  Human Development
CCE Summer Internship: Community Mobilization for Youth Mentoring
Faculty Mentor/Department: Mary Agnes Hamilton, PhD., Human Development/Family Life Development Center

Where did you grow up? I spent a large part of my adolescence in Westchester, New York. But before that, I lived in the Bronx after coming to New York from the Philippines.

Why did you decide to study at Cornell? One of the biggest reasons was my fascination with the interdisciplinary perspective of Human Ecology, which blended my interests in social science, research, and application.

What do you like most about your campus community? I enjoy the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of people who are all passionate about something.

When you are not studying, what do you like to do? I enjoy dancing, choreographing, watching dance shows, or thinking about dancing.

When did you become familiar with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the outreach mission of Cornell University? I learned about CCE after doing a search of summer opportunities in Ithaca via Cornelltrak this past semester.

Why do you think outreach is important? Having gone to a high school that stressed the importance of service to others, I’ve come to believe that learning and research should be for the benefit of all rather than the individual.

How did you become interested in the internship program? I knew I wanted to be part of a project that involved experience with the development of a community program. I was particularly interested in exploring the application of research and learning about participatory action research.

What do you hope to learn more about as a part of this experience? I hope to learn more about community development programs and the various types of supports that adolescents draw upon in community contexts.
 
Christian’s Internship
This summer, I’m working on a participatory action research project that focuses on the effects of natural mentoring on civic engagement, community connectedness, and academic success in rural youth. So far, much of my work has been focused on becoming familiar with the logic model and goals of the research project. I’ve been put to work reading various articles on natural youth mentoring, community contexts for youth development, and sustainable youth programs. I’ve also spent time speaking with Dr. Mary Agnes Hamilton, discussing ideas for the project and future plans.

The main goal of this summer’s work is to gather feedback from the participants of the pilot study conducted this past spring in order to prepare for the launch of the project this fall. This will be done by conducting a series of focus groups at South Seneca High School, where a course on interviewing skills was taught. To prepare for this, I’ve also reviewed material on conducting focus groups and read a number of transcripts for past focus groups that had been published.

***

This week I’ve been gathering information about service-learning programs around the country. What makes these programs different from other community service projects is their integration of activities into students’ current curriculum and the inclusion of a reflective component. These are particularly important in fostering future civic engagement and a range of positive characteristics such as self-efficacy. By the end of the summer, I hope to create a catalog of service learning ideas for the South Seneca community as they start Phase 2 of our mobilization for youth mentoring program (they are asked to reflect on ways in which youth can be more engaged in the community).

A side project has also been to read books by Robert Putnam (Bowling Alone and Better Together). Bowling Alone describes the decline of social capital in America and discusses the possible causes and its future prospects.

***

For the past two weeks, I have been working on creating a catalog of various service learning programs across the country to motivate members of the Seneca Falls, New York, community to create their own projects. Particularly interesting programs are those that allow students to debate and reflect on important issues in their local communities. Being involved in this decision making process gives them control of the project and supports community involvement.

I have also been working on creating an annotated bibliography of research focused on service learning and its benefits on positive youth development and civic engagement. This was particularly helpful in understanding the background of our work.

Future plans include visiting South Seneca High School to conduct focus groups on the pilot study conducted in the spring and developing our Web site to include training guides for teaching interview skills in the fall.

Allyson
Graduation Year: 2011
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Major: Agricultural Education
CCE Summer Internship: Farmers’ Market Research in Northern New York (Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, and Essex Counties)
Faculty Mentor/Department: Todd Schmit, Applied Economics and Management

Where did you grow up? Lorraine, New York (Jefferson County)

Why did you decide to study at Cornell? My career goal is to become an agricultural science teacher for high school students, and Cornell was the best option to prepare me for that career. Cornell offers amazing opportunities to travel, make professional connections, challenge myself, and pursue personal goals. 

What do you like most about your campus community? Everything! It is hard to put into words what the Cornell community provides, but I think it is mostly a sense of belonging. Even though the campus is big, it is easy to find ways to make it small, and I love that. I have had a great experience at Cornell and made so many memories, just in my first year. 

When you are not studying, what do you like to do? I enjoy horseback riding, kayaking, and traveling. I am a member of the Cornell University Dairy Science Club, Collegiate FFA, Collegiate 4-H, and Cornell Western Equestrian Team. I am also a sister in Sigma Alpha, the professional agricultural sorority. 

When did you become familiar with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the outreach mission of Cornell University? I have been active in 4-H since I was nine-years-old and spent time at the Jefferson County Cornell Cooperative Extension Office. My understanding of Extension and outreach grew as I increased involvement in 4-H, became interested in going to Cornell, and, now especially, as I have been developing contacts with Extension educators in Northern New York. 

Why do you think outreach is important? One exciting part of Cornell University is the extensive research that goes on there. However, this research would be essentially useless if that knowledge was not disseminated to the agricultural producers so they could use the new information, making outreach a vital part of Cornell. 

How did you become interested in the internship program? I attended the Cornell Cooperative Extension Internship Program reception last fall and learned about all of the projects conducted last summer. It seemed interesting, so I looked into what internships were being offered this summer.

What do you hope to learn more about as a part of this experience? I hope to improve my communication skills while talking with a wide variety of people who shop at farmers’ markets. I also want to gain exposure to the diversity of agriculture in Northern New York and learn more about the public’s perception of the agriculture industry. 
 
Allyson’s Internship
My internship is a regional Farmers’ Market Project. I will be visiting Farmers’ Markets in Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, and Essex counties and conducting a Rapid Market Assessment (RMA). Customers who want to participate will answer ten questions about the market. The questions are on big posters, and the customer will indicate their answers by placing a sticker next to their choice. They are asked to rate the market on certain characteristics, tell why they came to the market, how far they traveled to get there, how much they usually spend, and other questions that might help the market improve. The data about the specific market will be given back to the market manager along with the combined data from the region for a comparison. 

Another component of my project is to have market managers and farmer vendors fill out surveys and compile that data. In addition, I will do several case studies on successful farmer vendors and market managers. I tour farms, take pictures, and talk to farmers about the history of their operation. I really enjoy this component of my project because I get to meet many knowledgeable agriculturalists and see unique operations. 

I traveled to the Lowville Farmers’ Market in Lewis County to conduct the RMA and hand out surveys to vendors. Although it was a very rainy day, approximately 400 customers showed up at the market and about 100 people participated in the RMA. I travelled to Gouverneur and Brasher Falls, New York, in St. Lawrence County to meet with market managers and tour farms. I visited Kilcoyne Farms, which raises all nature, pasture-fed Black Angus Beef and Swine. This family operation sells their high-quality meat to local restaurants, resorts, and schools. They worked with the Tri-Town Farmers’ Market manager to offer their meat at the farmers’ market when it began last year. In Jefferson County, I have visited a dairy farm where a market manager works and a farm that is part of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). This CSA is the only one in Jefferson County, and it has been very successful. I plan to attend farmers’ markets in Jefferson County this week and continue to travel to farms. 

Sarah     
Graduation Year: 2011
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Major: Agricultural Sciences with a concentration in Education/Communication and a Minor in Plant Science
CCE Summer Internship: Program Assistant for the Cornell Vegetable Program
Faculty Mentor/Department: Dr. Stephen Reiners in Horticulture Sciences at NYSAES

Where did you grow up? I grew up in Greenville, New York, in Greene County on a small hobby farm.

Why did you decide to study at Cornell? During the college search process I had so many ideas about what I might want to study that I wanted to attend a university that offered numerous majors. I realized that Cornell has one of the strongest agriculture colleges in the nation, and I wanted the best education I could get.

What do you like most about your campus community? There is always something happening at Cornell or in Ithaca. I love that on any day I can experience a new seminar, concert, culture, or food.

When you are not studying, what do you like to do? I enjoy reading, singing, playing piano, kayaking, hiking, gardening, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

When did you become familiar with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the outreach mission of Cornell University? As a 4-H member I became involved with Cooperative Extension at a young age. I saw what CCE did for farmers and communities in my county but did not truly understand the breadth of Extension programming until I received this internship. 

Why do you think outreach is important? Outreach is so important because it is the connection between large research universities and the communities and people that need the knowledge. Outreach also allows researchers and Extension agents to know what the needs and concerns are of the general public and what they can do to help.

How did you become interested in the internship program? I have always been interested in agriculture education, so last fall when I heard that Extension interns were giving presentations on what they did over the summer, I attended. After the presentation I learned about this year’s internship and found one I thought would be perfect for me.

What do you hope to learn more about as a part of this experience? Through my internship, I hope to gain an understanding of vegetable production in New York State. I would like to understand the challenges that growers face and know what Extension can do to help. I hope to receive a sampling of what it is like to be an Extension educator. I also want to learn what it’s like to work in a research facility and its important ties to the university, Extension, and the agriculture industry.
 
Sarah’s Internship
In the first week of my internship, I attended the weekly farm meeting held in the horticultural department, where I learned what each professor needs done in the fields for that week. I planted pumpkin seeds for trial (we used 15 different types) and took and recorded dry weights for different forages. I also took a tour of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES) and many of the research farms to acclimate myself. I traveled to the Southern Tier, Tioga County, to do farm visits with Dr. Reiners and Extension educator Molly Shaw. We visited some folks who all had lots of questions for us. We saw a couple high tunnel and tomato projects. Molly has a great relationship with the growers.

On Thursday I read some chapters about phosphorus and its relationship with plants, and finished reading research papers. I participated in two tours led by Dr. Reiners. One was for Cornell administrative assistants, and one was for third graders from Geneva City West Elementary. I went to the Gates West farm to learn how to put together the drip irrigation system. We had to get the soil ready for Friday’s planting.

On Friday we planted the sweet potato trial on Gates West: 144 plants. My colleagues and I went out to fix the irrigation system and set up all the rows. I had my first weed identification lesson; I am learning to identify weeds when they are just germinating because that is when you can best control them. I randomized some plot maps.

This week I also did background research to become more knowledgeable about the subject. I read five research papers of similar projects and two chapters in textbooks. A summary of the project is that in New York we have high phosphate (P) levels in our soils, but in cooler temperatures the P is tied up and not available as a nutrient to plants. So even though it is there when snap beans are first planted and the soil is cooler, they cannot utilize it. Therefore, growers usually add it to the soil, which is undesirable because the level is already high. Dr. Reiners and I are trying to form a snap bean that has a higher phytate (P) level within the seed so that it has more nutrients available while it is growing in the P temporarily deficient soil. If this were successful then growers would not need to add phosphorus in the early stages of snap bean development.

***

On Monday, I attended our weekly farm meeting and then we went to Cornell to drop off seeds at a lab. I measured out mustard seed and sulfur for a project we are doing on the phitopthera farm. Tuesday: I planted the beans that are being used in my project and other beans as well. We had a meeting to discuss the farm plan template project, and then I familiarized myself with some GAPs information. Wednesday: Dr. Reiners and I put the phosphorus treatments on the beans. My colleagues and I planted sweet corn for the trial we are doing with a researcher at the University of Wisconsin. Thursday: I helped Extension educator Christy Hoepting plant her cabbage trials at a vegetable research farm in Geneva. We planted 1,700 plants, and they are being used to study sauerkraut processing. Friday: I attended and took notes at the Fruit and Vegetable Expo planning committee meeting. We discussed the trade show, which sessions to have at the Expo and I met colleagues from the Cornell Vegetable team.

This week I got the seeds planted on Tuesday and then added the Phosphorus treatments on Wednesday. I also learned how to do the calculations to figure out how much n-p-k you need to place on a small research plot rather than on a large acreage, and then I measured out these amounts to place on the plots. This skill is something I will need to use in the future when I do research.

***

Monday: I attended the weekly farm meeting. We then brought all the plants for the North Street School garden to the school and set up the garden. We bought supplies to make teepees for the morning glories to climb up and spent the afternoon building them. Tuesday: We helped plant the garden with the third-grade class. I had a group of four students, and we planted marigolds and sunflowers. We started to put together the irrigation system for the blight farm. I helped plant castor seeds and then measured out bean seed for our variety trial. Wednesday: Finished putting together the irrigation at the blight farm and helped plant a pepper trial there. Later we planted mustard seed along with a sulfur treatment at the blight farm. Thursday: We thinned corn and weeded the fields in Research North all morning. In the afternoon I took germination rates for my beans plants, measured out mustard seed for our next planting, and put stakes out on the mustard we planted the day before. Friday: Dr. Reiners and I went to western New York with a Cornell Vegetable Program Team member to learn more about processing vegetables and that sector of the industry. We visited My-T Acres, LBrook farms, Torrey fields, Allen Processors in Oakfield and Bergen and Farm Fresh First.

***

Monday: I attended the weekly farm meeting and ran some errands to different labs because Dr. Reiners was out of town at a meeting. Then I thinned corn and weeded cornfields. In the afternoon I traveled to Freeville to the research farm there to attend a weed identification and cultivation class. It was held by the North East Organic Farming Association (NOFA). Tuesday: I thinned corn and weeded cornfields. I worked on identifying an annual grass that was stumping everyone. We finally decided that it is most likely annual rye grass. I went out to the bean fields where my project beans are planted to take notes on how they were doing. Then we went to the blight farm to prep the soil for the mustard planting and fix leaks in the drip irrigation system. Wednesday: Dr. Reiners and I planted the second set of mustard seed on the blight farm, and I measured our mustard and sulfur for the next planting. We plan on doing a new trial every two weeks. We met staff from seed testing to discuss a problem with onion seed germination rates. New York Agriculture and Markets sends random seed samples to the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station to be tested and ensure that they fulfill the advertised germination rates along with other things. Next week we are being sent to a grower’s farm where seed that only tested a 50% germination rate was planted to see if they are having the same issue out in the field. Thursday: We traveled to the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County to have a Cornell Vegetable Team planning meeting. They have these every few months so that the vegetable specialists and the leadership team can set plans and goals for the future and review what has been going on in the field and offices. Friday: Dr. Reiners and I accompanied a vegetable specialist to Wayne County to visit a grower and check on a potato variety trial and dry bean variety trail. Our first stop was a potato grower on the muck who was having drainage issues. The problem is stemming from a beaver dam a little ways down the stream, but the owner of the property the dam is on will not allow it to be removed or a drainage pipe installed. We took pictures of the problem and the specialist is writing a letter to New York Department of Environmental Conservation so that maybe they will help. Next we traveled to Savannah to take notes on the potato variety trial there. We saw some signs of virus, and the fields had just been sprayed with 2-4-D to increase red color in the red varieties of potatoes. The dry bean trial had just been planted two days before but the roots already were half an inch and looked great.   

One of the vegetable specialists in the Cornell Vegetable Program is trying to help this grower by writing letters on his behalf and really anything else she can do to help. We spent an hour or two with him on Friday documenting the problem so that we can help him take action. This is a prime example of how Extension educators have really diverse jobs and do anything and everything. 

Margaret
Graduation Year: 2009
College: Agriculture and Life Science
Major: Natural Resources
CCE Summer Internship: Watershed Community Educator at CCEDC
Faculty Mentor/ Department: Rebecca Schneider, Department of Natural Resources

Where did you grow up? I grew up in Pleasant Valley, New York, very close to where I live now and to where I am conducting this internship: Millbrook, New York.

Why did you decide to study at Cornell? I decided to study at Cornell because it is in state and close to my family, accepted most of the credits I completed at community college, has a natural resources department that offers a lot of flexibility, and, of course, because they accepted me.

What do you like most about your campus community? I like that there is a lot of diversity on the Cornell campus. As a nontraditional undergraduate (I am a slightly older student and a single mother of a three-year-old), I do not feel out of place at all.  There is housing to accommodate my needs and other families, albeit mostly graduate student families, all around us. Ithaca seems like a great place to raise kids.

When you are not studying, what do you like to do? When I am not studying I am spending time with my son. We explore the natural beauty all around us, tour the campus, attend Hasbrouck activities, or just cook together.

When did you become familiar with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the outreach mission of Cornell University? I have been familiar with the Extension since I was a small child because it is so close to the house where I grew up. It was and still is the main location for the meetings of the 4-H dairy goat club of which I was a member for many years. The outreach mission of Extension did not become clear to me until I began considering Cornell as an option for higher education.

Why do you think outreach is important? Outreach is important for the democratization of science. It is important for society to be able to influence the direction of research for its own benefit. In such a relationship, the researchers have a channel for disseminating important information to the public.

How did you become interested in the internship program? I became interested when I learned that there were opportunities for me to apply my course work so close to home.

What do you hope to learn more about as a part of this experience? In addition to aiding to fulfill Cornell’s land grant mission to address our society’s challenges, I also hope to learn about the human dimensions of natural resource management, about the kind of classroom knowledge that is applicable in the career world, and about the career opportunities that exist in the field.

Margaret’s Internship
The week has been one of preparation for upcoming events that I will attend and for which I helped to plan. 

Tomorrow I will be attending my first quarterly session of an intermunicipal council, which meets to discuss the watershed that this group of municipalities has in common.  At the meeting I will be presenting to the supervisors and the council about conducting a stakeholder survey. My talk will include information about why we want to conduct a survey, how responses to the questions can be useful to the group, our method for distribution, and a draft that I have composed. The council will have the chance to review the draft and hopefully approve it.  I will have the chance to meet many supervisors from the county and tour Wappinger Lake on a weed harvester! 

I have been working with staff from the Environment Program at CCE Dutchess County to prepare for a long week of outreach and educational events on watersheds and more specifically the Wappinger Creek Watershed, which drains water from approximately 25 percent of Dutchess County into the Hudson River Estuary. The week will include a parade, a book signing, educational events at various recreational parks, nature walks, movie screenings, etc. I have been learning about the games and activities that we will be doing with citizens and youth related to the water cycle, water chemistry, and macro invertebrate sampling. Additionally, I have been assisting in the logistical work of putting on such a series of events, including distribution of fliers, space reservation, and communication with various groups.

In my free time this week, I worked on populating the Web page for a new CCE/DC Web site about water resources. The site is scheduled to go live later this month.  Populating and beautifying the page has been and will continue to be an ongoing project for me.  I spend time exploring the Internet and the share drive of the program for relevant information to put on the page on topics such as storm water, riparian buffers, water quality, local watershed organizations, and better site design.

Adrienne
Graduation Year: 2010 (December 2009)
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Major: Agricultural Science
CCE Summer Internship: Recycling Ag Plastics Project
Faculty Mentor/Department: Lois Levitan, Communications

Where did you grow up? Cortland, New York

Why did you decide to study at Cornell? I attended a liberal arts school for two years before realizing that I really wanted to be involved in agriculture. I’ve always wanted to study at Cornell, and it turns out that the Ag Sci program is unique and exactly the program for me.

What do you like most about your campus community? I like the constant learning opportunities, both in and out of the classroom.

When you are not studying, what do you like to do? Read, write, listen to music, take hikes to appreciate Ithaca’s natural beauty, visit home, and make dinner with friends.

When did you become familiar with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the outreach mission of Cornell University? I became familiar with CCE as a kid when I was a 4-Her in Cortland County.

Why do you think outreach is important? All the knowledge and research in the world does no good if people aren’t aware of it and can’t make use of it!

How did you become interested in the internship program? I asked the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cortland County Executive Director who I should talk to about CCE internships.

What do you hope to learn more about as a part of this experience? Since the Recycling Ag Plastics Project is so complex, I’ll learn a great deal about how to manage and integrate the various aspects of the project. I’ll also learn a ton about plastic recycling and New York agriculture—I probably won’t be able to talk about anything else by the end of the summer!

Adrienne’s Internship
This summer I am working with Lois Levitan in Cornell’s Communication Department.  Lois is the project leader for the Recycling Ag Plastics Project (RAPP), which is developing solutions to the problem of what to do with used agricultural plastics.  Farmers and the Department of Environmental Conservation are concerned that there isn’t an energy efficient or environmentally-friendly way to dispose of flower pots, bunk covers, and other ag plastics. 

My main task is to help figure out how much and what types of plastic farmers are using and how they dispose of it currently—of course, I wind up spreading the word about the project at the same time. I’m having lots of fun talking to farmers I’ve known my whole life and others I’ve just met about how we can develop a system that works for them. Operating margins tend to be slim in agriculture, and any recycling system has to be economical and require very little time to make sense for on-farm implementation.  What I’m finding out so far is that there’s a great deal of interest in recycling ag plastics!  Few people have prior knowledge of our project, but they are keen to know more and to help out however they can once we make contact.

I have lots of other projects this summer as well, such as keeping our database of contacts up-to-date and interviewing transfer station operators to see how the various landfills and recycling centers around the state might be able to participate in plastic collection. So far, I really enjoy being part of getting an important project off the ground.

***

In the last week, my coworker and I have conducted several interviews of area farmers.  We started out at the Cortland County Jr. Fair, which was disappointingly smaller than it was a few years ago. All the same, we were able to get some useful information about plastics use in the county—and enjoy the fair at the same time.

We’ve also traveled to farms to do surveys. This allows time for more detailed questions. We’re visiting a wide variety of farms; it’s fascinating to see the many different ways people come up with to achieve the goal of producing high-quality milk. I can’t claim specific results of our surveys, but what I’ve noticed so far is that many people are burning their plastic simply because there is not a better option. Some have given thought to what another option might be, and some haven’t, but there is universal interest in recycling the plastic once the idea emerges. One farmer we talked to told us that he has chosen not to use plastic because of the disposal issue, but as an involved community member he’s invested in finding a solution that works for everyone.

My favorite moment from this week was helping out with the milking at one farm so that the farmer had time to talk to my coworker. I won’t get a chance to do that on every farm (I used to work for this particular farmer), but it was an enjoyable and practical solution in this case. Of course, my coworker managed to get dirtier than I did!

The interviews will continue next week.

***

This week has been an exercise in patience and perseverance! It turns out that it's more difficult to conduct phone interviews than in-person interviews, simply because of technical difficulties. Once we get in touch with farmers, the talks are usually great. We're learning to balance time spent asking questions with time spent explaining the project–but still without taking up too much of the farmers' time! 

We're also gearing up for our display and plastic baler demonstration at Empire Farm Days (August 5-7). Lois is in charge of most of the preparations, but I'm scheduling more in-person interviews with farmers for those days. It's a good way to meet up with farmers who live in other parts of the state.

Laura
Graduation Year: 2009
College: Human Ecology
Major: Nutritional Sciences
CCE Summer Internship: Community Intervention Evaluation Assistant, Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors (BCERF). We’re working on statistical analysis and formative qualitative research of a walking intervention in rural New York areas (“Small Steps are Easier Together”). As obesity is one of the leading risk factors for breast cancer, prevention of weight gain is a key way to reduce risk. People at ten work sites were encouraged to increase the amount that they walk (using pedometers to track their progress) to improve overall fitness.
Faculty Mentor/Department: Dr. Carol Devine (Division of Nutritional Sciences) and Dr. Barbour Warren (Sprecher Institute for Applied Cancer Research)

Where did you grow up? Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Why did you decide to study at Cornell? When I decided I wanted to finish an undergraduate degree and study nutrition, I was excited to learn that Cornell has such a prestigious nutrition department. I came here to learn from teachers and scientists who do the most current, cutting-edge research. Plus, I adore Ithaca, so being able to pursue a degree in a subject I love in my place of residence was and has been wonderful.

What do you like most about your campus community? The incredibly knowledgeable, perceptive, and action-oriented people I’ve met.

When you are not studying, what do you like to do? I have a lot of friends in bands, so I go and listen to them perform! And hike. That is my favorite thing in the world.

When did you become familiar with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the outreach mission of Cornell University? Last year I was fortunate to work with CCE in New York City. I assisted with the Urban Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. The people I worked with are amazing and really embody the spirit of giving to the community.

Why do you think outreach is important? Economics. So few people can afford the cost of attending this high-priced institution; the ramifications of which stem from how our society has divided wealth from the very beginning. Outreach is a step toward sharing the wealth. People who have gained specific knowledge bring it to those who otherwise would not be privy to it. Thereby, quality of life can be improved, which in the end helps us all.

How did you become interested in the internship program? I worked part time for BCERF during the school year and was somewhat involved in the “Small Steps” program. One of the components of the project is the built environment and how it affects the choices we make. In regards to nutrition, this is interesting to me. Participants in the program were questioned about accessibility to “healthy” foods. An aim of the intervention is to increase workers’ awareness of how to bring more healthful foods into their environment.

What do you hope to learn more about as a part of this experience? I applied to the summer position because I wanted to learn more about the process of creating and evaluating an intervention. I had previously been involved mainly with data processing, but the summer position affords the opportunity to meet with people who participated in the project and hear their personal stories.

Laura’s Internship
Over 200 people from many different places in New York State participated in a ten-week walking program. The project is aimed at increasing participants’ awareness about the role of exercise and diet in preventing weight gain and, ultimately, lowering the risk for breast cancer. Participants logged into a Web site to record their daily walking steps. They also reported ways in which they “saved” 100 calories during the week. By walking 2,000 steps more every day than the test (or “baseline”) week, participants will have made a positive change toward weight maintenance and loss.

***

My role as a research assistant has been to compile and organize data from the project. We are now working on determining if changes can be seen between the baseline week and the other study weeks. I also spent four days preparing and mailing a survey to all study participants. The survey was created by the research team last year. Many of the questions were also asked on a pre-survey, prior to the walking weeks. The purposes of the survey are to determine if the participants report change between the beginning and end of the study and also to provide a forum for open-ended response.  

I am also preparing to travel to the work sites where the walking groups formed. I will be able to talk face-to-face with the walking leaders to find out what worked well and what could be improved.

***

Last week I traveled to Lewis and St. Lawrence counties in northern New York. I conducted interviews with leaders from the Small Steps Project. People from five work sites walked in the project. The groups were organized through the North Country Cornell Cooperative Extension sites. The land was absolutely beautiful. Although my long drive took me through some rain, the skies were very clear and bright for much of the trip. I stayed overnight in Canton, New York, a completely new experience for me. Canton is very close to the Canadian border and very rural. Much of the travel is done by car, as towns are very spread out. This presents an interesting challenge to the concept of walking for the Small Steps Project, as there are few sidewalks.

I got to see the educational farm in St. Lawrence County, as well as tour the CCE site there. I met with all five of the project leaders. Each was kind and gave much pertinent information regarding experiences with leading the Small Steps project in her work site. I have been listening to the recorded interviews to determine key themes regarding what worked well and what didn’t work so well, both in implementation at the worksites and conceptualization of the project.

Meeting the participants in the project was definitely a wonderful experience. I have been doing statistical work on their progress with the walking, but through talking to the people, I was able to understand their individual struggles and joys with the project.


Rosalea
Graduation Year: 2011
College: Human Ecology
Major: Human Biology, Health & Society
CCE Summer Internship: Children and Nature Research Outreach Assistant
Faculty Mentor/Department: Nancy Wells, Design Environmental Analysis

Where did you grow up? Ithaca, New York

Why did you decide to study at Cornell? During my college search, I discovered that a major in Human Biology, Health and Society (HBHS) in Cornell’s College of Human Ecology is unique. The HBHS curriculum has served me well.

What do you like most about your campus community? Cornell has a wealth of diversity, including opinions, cultures, and personalities. I enjoy this diversity because it allows me to have many new experiences. This diversity also contributes to the many interests and activities available on campus.

When you are not studying, what do you like to do? I enjoy making clothes and jewelry and dancing. I also enjoy reading the news and books about culture. Currently, I am reading Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracey Kidder.

When did you become familiar with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the outreach mission of Cornell University? Growing up in Ithaca, I always heard about Cornell Cooperative Extension but was a little unsure of what it actually was. When I applied for the CCE internship I became more familiar with the outreach mission.

Why do you think outreach is important? I believe that individuals should help one and another in order to succeed and find happiness. Outreach provides an effective vehicle to help community members engage and help one another.

How did you become interested in the internship program? I wanted to work for a professor in Human Ecology. I received the invitation to attend an internship information session, where I learned that there were many exciting opportunities for me.

What do you hope to learn more about as a part of this experience? I hope to learn researching skills that will be useful throughout my academic and professional career. I also hope to learn about community interactions and how these relationships can be strengthened. I am also interested in better understanding outreach programs, their benefits, and ways that they can be improved. 
 
Rosalea’s Internship
In my summer internship, I assist Nancy Wells in documenting and evaluating a Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) after school program, Urban Forest Adventures (UFA). The program is located at West Village and its purpose is to teach kids survival skills and get them outside in nature. While some of Nancy Wells’s other research assistants were in town I met with them to be trained in conducting the evaluation of UFA. Data from an interview with the UFA participants is used for evaluating the program. Interviews occur both before and after participants take part in UFA. Interviews consist of a series of questions and games that evaluate the participants’ attitudes toward nature. I also attended a meeting with Nancy Wells, her research assistants, and the UFA instructors. This meeting helped me understand UFA and also connect with CCE staff.

During my first few weeks with Nancy Wells, I learned about UFA and the history of programs similar to it. For example, I read about Tom Brown, who is seen as the father of wilderness awareness programs, and learned how he has inspired UFA instructors and programming. I also learned more about how UFA was developed. UFA is based on Primitive Pursuits, a CCE wilderness awareness program that has existed for a number of years. Recently there has been a movement to get more kids outside in nature, partly due to Last Child in the Woods, a book by Richard Louv that describes the disconnect that our society has with nature and the negative effects of this disconnect. The U.S. Forest Service has provided grants to organizations seeking to address the divide between people and nature, and CCE developed UFA and became one of the recipients of this grant. My role is not only to collect data by interviewing the participants but also to document the program by attending UFA sessions. I am in the process of attending these sessions and writing a description of UFA in order to help in its evaluation.

***

As I mentioned earlier, part of my internship includes observing the Urban Forest Adventures (UFA) program at West Village. The program occurs every Tuesday during the school year. I have observed four Tuesdays and the group’s final celebration, a camp out on June 27. There are about ten to twelve kids who attend UFA every week, along with four instructors who guide the children in the woods that surround West Village. The instructors help the kids to feel comfortable outdoors by teaching them survival skills and nature exploration and appreciation. Many times the kids at UFA play games that mimic animals and survival. For example, one popular game is “Camouflage.” The game is hide-and-seek, except that from one’s hiding spot he or she must be able to see the seeker. The goal is to get as close to the seeker as possible without being seen. Another activity that the kids engaged in at UFA was a long-term project making bows and arrows. It consisted of finding the correct wood for a bow and arrow and then carving each piece.

At the conclusion of the program, participants used their new skills at a camp out celebration on the Finger Lakes National Forest near Trumansburg, New York, and I was able to observe them for the day. The camp out began at the head of the trail, where the kids loaded up with a sleeping bag, mat, personal items, and food for the group. From there we walked for about 30 minutes and came to a clearing, where we decided to set up camp. The kids then scouted for an area to sleep, eat, and make a bathroom. After agreeing on the spot for each of these things, the kids worked together to make a lean-to-like-shelter out of tarps, dig a hole for a bathroom, and build a fire. After some hard work we made our way down to Seneca Lake (about a 20-minute walk) where the kids explored. Soon after arriving at the lake we had to return to shelter because it began to storm, with lightening, thunder, and lots of rain! The kids stayed cheerful when the returned to camp to find that their shelter had kept all of their belongings dry. While I had to leave for the day, it looked like the group had a fun evening ahead of them, including cooking over their fire!

Thus far it has been a great experience for me to observe Urban Forest Adventures. I have been able to interact with kids and Cornell Cooperative Extension staff. It has been great to observe the program because I am able to see an Extension program in action and learn more about kids’ needs, plus I have learned about edible plants and survival skills! The next step for my internship will be to begin to document the UFA program.

***

In an earlier posting I mentioned that part of my internship included interviewing Urban Forest Adventure (UFA) participants before and after they begin the program. This past week has been hectic with scheduling interviews and interviewing kids. Along with the UFA program during the school year, there is one week of summer camp (July 7 – July 13). In June I helped the program director recruit participants by distributing flyers in the Ithaca City School District and posting flyers around town. Until about a week ago there were only four kids signed up, but now there are about 20 kids, many of whom I hope to interview. Over the weekend I was able to interview seven kids. The interview lasts about an hour and consists of general questions about age and likes and dislikes as well as games to help determine environmental behaviors and attitudes. I have been interested to hear the kids’ thoughts and responses and to observe the similarities and differences between children. The next step will to follow up with the kids once they finish their week at camp.

***

So far this week has been a “tidying-up week.” This past weekend, while one of Nancy Wells’s research assistants from the fall was in town, we conducted post interviews with Urban Forest Adventures (UFA) campers and reviewed some things in the office. In addition to interviews for UFA, I am also working on another one of Nancy Wells’s research projects: nutrition interviews in Gainesville, Florida. By phone, I will conduct interviews with female residents in Gainesville about their food likes, dislikes, grocery shopping habits, and restaurant preferences. The purpose of the interviews is to understand how the environment affects women’s food choices and habits. Before we begin to interview women, we recruited them by sending flyers to community centers in Gainesville and also prepared our interviewing tools. We use Microsoft Access for the interviews, but the current program has remnants from previous projects. I have been cleaning up our interview in Access and making sure that it runs smoothly with SPSS [a computer program used for statistical analysis]. This has allowed me to understand Access and SPSS better and to learn more about evaluating interviews. Right now it looks like the programs are running smoothly; the next step will be to schedule the phone interviews!

Joran
Graduation Year: 2009
College: Human Ecology
Major: Human Biology, Health and Society
CCE Summer Internship: Collaboration for Health, Activity, and Nutrition in Children’s Environments (CHANCE) Validation Study Intern
Faculty Mentors/Department: Kate Dickin and Jamie Dollahite/Nutrition

Where did you grow up? I grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, but recently moved to Mine Hill, New Jersey.
Why did you decide to study at Cornell? Cornell has many research opportunities for those interested in biology. It also has a beautiful campus with waterfalls and all four seasons that would attract anybody.
What do you like most about your campus community? I like that this campus is so diverse. You can learn a lot from the different organizations, performance groups, and cultural events. I also appreciate the opportunities to explore any field of study and initiate new projects.
When you are not studying, what do you like to do? I am a member of The CallbaXX, an all-female a cappella group on campus. I also volunteer and explore the Ithaca area’s many restaurants and parks.
When did you become familiar with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the outreach mission of Cornell University? I took the course “Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector” my sophomore year. I learned about the outreach mission of Cornell University and, specifically, Human Ecology. Ken Schlather, the Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County was a guest speaker.
Why do you think outreach is important? Outreach develops a mutual relationship between two groups of people. Students engaged in service learning aid society and educate themselves through research and experience and through outreach also provide basic services and education.
How did you become interested in the internship program? After taking a nutrition course at Cornell, I wanted to do research in that department. When I found out that CCE offers an internship, I became interested.
What do you hope to learn more about as a part of this experience? I hope to learn more about nutrition and how low-income parents as well as college students can fit healthy food and physical activity in their busy schedules. Looking at the CHANCE curriculum, I have learned a lot so far about ways to make eating nutritious foods fun for kids. Parenting styles when dealing with children’s eating habits is very important in enabling a child to eat the right foods and developing a healthier lifestyle.

Joran’s Internship
CHANCE stands for Collaboration for Health, Activity, and Nutrition in Children's Environments. It is a nutrition education program that aims to educate parents about better food and activity in order to create healthy home environments for children. In order to assess the overall effectiveness of the program, a 16-item CHANCE Behavior Checklist is given to enrollees before and after the eight-session program. The hope is that after taking the program, parents will score better on the second test.

Testing the validity of an instrument is important in order to determine the efficacy and adequacy of the questions used. We want to test whether the CHANCE Behavior Checklist is measuring what it is intended to measure. To test validity of the questionnaire, I put together a series of more in-depth instruments that will further examine the nature of each of the 16 questions. These instruments are mostly validated questionnaires on the domains of nutrition, physical activity, parenting skills, and home environment. This was the first part of the internship.

The second part of the internship is about interviewing CHANCE-eligible participants to see if they answer in the same way with each questionnaire. After pre-testing with CCE staff, I asked low-income, CHANCE-eligible parents from around New York State to complete the questionnaires as well as the CHANCE Behavior Checklist. There are currently six instruments used. The one-on-one interview process takes approximately 45 minutes to complete, and there is an incentive upon completion. So far, I have traveled to Jefferson, Orange, Schenectady, and Herkimer counties and worked with the CCE staff there in setting up the interviews. I will also do more interviews in NYC and Tompkins County.

In addition to interviewing parents, I am also working on entering the information from the data collection. We will then compare the results of the questionnaires to see if they correlate on the various domains. If there is a high correlation, the CHANCE Behavior Checklist is a valid instrument to be used in this program.