BRATTLEBORO-Camille Kauffman has been named the University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H educator for Windham and Windsor counties. She will be based in the UVM Extension Office in Brattleboro.
In her new role, she plans to connect with the various club leaders, volunteers, and members of all of the programs that 4-H provides through the local UVM Extension network. Windham County currently has two 4-H horse clubs, and Windsor County has four clubs with members enrolled in livestock, natural resources, and shooting sports projects.
"My hope is to learn from the clubs-some that have been around for a long time and some that are newer, to be able to provide the best 4-H experience for them," Kauffman said in a news release, "whether that means putting on events that fit their needs, such as a babysitting course or making sure youth have the resources that they need to succeed in state shows and even nationals."
The Delaware native graduated from the University of Delaware in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in environmental studies, moving to Vermont a year later to complete a year of AmeriCorps service with Paran Recreations in North Bennington. After her AmeriCorps stint, she was hired as the organization's full-time director, where she continued to provide opportunities for recreation and outdoor education by coordinating place-based education for summer camps for school-aged youths, organizing community-based events and increasing funding streams.
Kauffman volunteers as a teacher with the 4-Winds Nature programming at the Village School in North Bennington and is a co-chair for the Bennington Appalachian Trail Committee. She is a member of the Alliance for Community Transformations, a Bennington-area youth substance prevention counsel, and previously volunteered as a Girls on the Run coach.
"Although I was not a 4-H'er, I am super impressed with the variety and depth of 4-H," Kauffman said. "There really is a program for every youth's interest, and my goal is to empower participants to find joy, self-discovery and connection within the program. I'm looking forward to helping youth recognize that being part of 4-H connects them to something much bigger - in fact, a community of over six million members nationwide!"
Kauffman can be reached at [email protected] or 802-656-7530.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.