What is this program?

The goal for this program is to give Virginia 4-H High School students an opportunity to opportunity to travel to a Spanish speaking, developing country to interact with their peers. While there for a week, the 4-H'ers work with local Dominican teen partners to conduct an environmental 4-H Day Camp for Dominican children, learn about Dominican culture and food and conduct at least one service project in the local community.

We offer this 4-H program in partnership with the Grupo PuntaCana Foundation, Center for Sustainability and Biodiversity, of which Virginia Tech is a research partner. We began this grass roots program in 2006.  During 2007, it received the National World Citizenship in 4-H Youth Development Award from the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents.  The current program is in its 15th year, with trip leaders Carol Nansel and Christine Hodges.  Due to the pandemic, the program was suspended in 2020, 2021 and 2022.  This is our first year back since 2019 and we couldn't be more excited!  

In 2023, we have a total of 22 teens and 7 adults in our delegation from around Virginia, which include the following:

      4-H Teens

9 from Shenandoah

2 from Alleghany

2 from Highland

3 from Loudoun

2 from Henrico

1 from Accomack

1 from Montgomery

1 from Lee

1 from Albemarle

     4-H Volunteers

Chris Biby, Shenandoah

DJ Croskey-Ford, Henrico

Dwight Farmer, Shenandoah

   Extension Agents, 4-H

Carol Nansel, Shenandoah

Christine Hodges, Alleghany

Ben Hindman, Highland

Emmalee Edwards, Augusta

We hope you will enjoy the group blog that we are publishing during our trip.

Contributed by Carol Nansel, Shenandoah Co. 4-H Extension Agent