This document printed from the University of Illinois Extension Cook County at http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/
Master Gardener Program in North Suburban Cook County: New Class Starting January 2010. Read Below and Sign Up Today!
The Illinois Master Gardener program is an educational, volunteer program offered by University of Illinois Extension. The program is designed to increase the availability of university-based horticultural information to local communities and individuals through trained volunteers known as Master Gardeners.
Master Gardener Mission
The mission of the Illinois Master Gardener Program is: "Helping Others Learn to Grow". Master Gardeners involve people in improving the quality of life, and enhancing the economy and environment through horticultural education, applied research and the resources of the University of Illinois.
What Is a Master Gardener?
A Master Gardeners are adults of all ages who love gardening and who have previous gardening experience. They come from all aspects of life. You can become a Master Gardener if you have some knowledge or experience in gardening and landscape management (you need not be an 'expert'); are willing to learn about horticulture and share that researched-based information with others; are accepted into a local Master Gardener training program; and can volunteer at least 60 hours conducting horticultural educational programming coordinated through the local University of Illinois Extension Unit.
Education is what we're all about. With no products or services to sell, Master Gardeners can provide unbiased, research-based information from the University of Illinois to the public.
After receiving the core horticultral training, Master Gardener trainees are required to engage in 60 hours of volunteer work to complete their internship and graduate to become a certified Master Gardener. After graduating and becoming certified, a Master Gardener must continue to provide 30 hours of volunteer work to remain an active, certified Master Gardener. That volunteer work typically falls under one of these approved categories:
Answer consumer calls & questions
Gardening with special audiences
Home garden research
Demonstration gardens
Garden classes
Informational booths
Speakers' bureau
School/after-school programs
Administrative assistance
Become a Master Gardener in the North and Northwest Suburbs of Cook County in 2010
Instruction:
Attendance at all eleven training core-training classes is required. The classes run January through March consecutive Tuesdays from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Big Ten Conference facility located at: 1500 Higgins Road, Park Ridge, IL 60068, except as noted.
Tentative Training schedule for 2010
University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener trainees participate in more than 60 hours of training. Training sessions are taught by University of Illinois Extension Educators. The emphasis of the information is practical, yet research based. Students must pass a final comprehensive exam (all open book).
Tentative, UNCONFIRMED Cook North Schedule for 2010 Program:
Jan 12 Botany - Stack
Jan 19 Soil - Phillips
Jan 26 Woody Plants (Trees, Shrubs) - Hentschel
Feb 2Vegetables - Wolford
Feb 9 Herbaceous flowers & Roses - Stack
Feb 16 Fruits - Hentschel
Feb 23 Insects - Grupp
Mar 2 Turf - Kostelnick
Mar 9 Plant Pathology (Diseases)- Pollard
Mar 16 Integrated Pest Management and Pesticide Safety - HigginsVolunteer Opportunities, and Master Gardener Idea Exchange - staff & volunteers
Mar 23 Recording volunteer hours on the web; Volunteer Orientation to the Ask the Master Gardener Office. - staff & volunteers FINAL EXAM DUE
March 30 SNOW DATE MAKEUP DATE
Cost
Your time for classes and 60 hours of volunteer work along with a fee ($250) to cover the cost of the Master Gardener resource manual, handouts, and other class expenses.
Alternatively, the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener training is now also available during the winter months on the web (estimated fee $250).
The Illinois Master Gardener website is: http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/mg/ apply to take this class the same way as you would the face to face classes.
Applying
Please fill out and submit application (see below). The Registration Deadline for the 2010 Master Gardener program is November 1, 2009. The class is limited to 30. Each applicant will be required to go through an informal interview in the fall (Oct-Nov). The class is limited to 30. Applicants will be notified if they are accepted into the class before Thanksgiving. After acceptance, the $250 fee is due by December 10, 2009 and payable by credit card, cash, or check.
(NOTE: If you filled out an application before August 5, 2009, you must reapply. Applications prior to August 5, 2009 were not received. Thank you.)
For more information e-mail Sharon Gaske, at gaske@illinois.edu or call (847) 818-2901.
Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016; Phone (847) 298-3502 (Available April-October, Weekdays 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and Saturdays 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
Due to reduction of calls that come into the Master Gardener desk during the winter months, Master Gardeners are available to answer calls on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
For more information about the North Suburban Cook Master Gardener Program, contact us at: University of Illinois Extension North Suburban Cook Office, Third District Court Building, 2121 W. Euclid Avenue, Suite 251, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008; phone (847) 818-2901
