This document printed from the University of Illinois Extension Cook County at http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/
Volunteer Projects
University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners serve an important role as educators in their communities. Interns are committed to returning 60 hours of volunteer service to become certified. After certification, Master Gardeners who continue with the program serve 30 hours of volunteer time each year to remain Active Certified. Cook County/ South Suburban Unit Master Gardeners and Interns are needed to serve those hours in a variety of ways. It is our intention that you make plans for service that is meaningful to you.
Ask a Master Gardener Office Component
Interns: A minimum of 20 hours needs to be spent volunteering in the Master Gardener Office.
Certified: A minimum of 10 hours in the University of Illinois Extension office.
Ask a Master Gardener Office experience enables the Master Gardener to:
Become more familiar with the vast network of horticultural resources available in the form of fact sheets, books, files, educators and web connections.
Gain experience utilizing resources to answer "real world" questions from a diverse public.
Be supported by Extension staff and/or Active Certified Master Gardeners so that accuracy stays high and frustration level low.
Your office service enables:
The University of Illinois Extension to respond to the numerous horticulture questions received from the general public.
The Public to identify the University of Illinois Extension as a source of reliable information.
Projects
Ask a Master Gardener Hotline
Organize files in MG office
Farm Bureau Soil Test Program
May serve all of MG time here. This is considered a priority project and an approved project as well.
Priority Projects Component
Interns: a minimum of 20 hours should be devoted to Priority Projects.
Certified Master Gardeners: a minimum of 10 hours should be devoted to Priority Projects.
Priority Projects are in our Unit Plan of Work for the current year, are supported by public funds, or have established mutually beneficial, defined relationships with U of I Extension. There is a higher level of support from the Horticulture Coordinator for these activities than other Approved Community Service projects. In addition to those priority projects listed, Ask a Master Gardener is a priority project.
Master Gardener Office is a priority, too! Nancy Pollard must be informed of dates you plan to be at an event in order for you to be covered by University of Illinois Extension liability insurance.
Projects
Ask a Master Gardener tables: Farmers Markets: All Priority Projects
Lemont Farmers Market * (tentative)
Orland Park Farmers Market *
Park Forest Farmers Market *
Tinley Park Farmers Market *
Other farmers markets
*Farmers Markets may quality for up to 10 hours of Master Gardener Office time for interns who serve under Certified MG's and are employed during regular office hours, if approved by coordinator.
Ask a Master Gardener Tables for Community Events
Lake Katherine Arbor Day
Lake Katherine Butterfly Festival
Lake Katherine Winter Fest 2004
Irons Oaks Environmental Education Center
Oak Forest Hospital Earth Day
Sandridge Nature Center Earth Day(Cook County Forest Preserve)
Horticulture Therapy
Oak Forest Hospital Planting Day
Oak Forest Hospital Earth Day
Oak Forest Hospital Patient Programs
Oak Forest Hospital Outdoor Garden Sites
Oak Forest Hospital Indoor Plant Care
Oak Forest Hospital Guest Speaker
Demo Gardens
Lake Katherine Butterfly Garden, Palos Heights
Lake Katherine Herb Garden, Palos Heights
Lake Katherine Pioneer Garden, Palos Heights
Lake Katherine Waterfall and Conifer Gardens, Palos Heights
Miller Gardens/ Auto Mall Park, Matteson
Sandridge Nature Center, South Holland
U of I Extension Office, Matteson
MG Continuing Education
Garden Know How Series, Matteson
Intern and Office Orientation, Matteson
Speakers Bureau
Public speaking: Pre-packaged presentation (Garden Know How Series)
Public speaking: Create your own presentation, South Suburbs
Urban Extension Conference: Chicago Hilton & Towers
Hospitality
Registration
Clean-up
MG Volunteer Recognition
Extension Appreciation Banquet
Idea Exchange
MGLink Newsletter
Create Changeable Display Poster
Youth Gardens: CEDA ** Original four sites: **Priority Projects. (Sites without ** are approved projects.)
Blake Head Start
Cottage Grove**
County Club Hills**
Orland Park Head Start**
St. James Chicago Hts.
St. Joseph's Chicago Heights**
Youth: 4-H
4-H Adventure Camps/ JMG
4-H Fair
4-H Public Presentations Contest
4-H Special interest groups
Approved Community Service Component
Interns: the remaining 20 hours can be devoted to approved projects, the Master Gardener office or priority projects.
Certified: the remaining 10 can be devoted to approved projects, the Master Gardener office or priority projects. Approved Community Service is self-directed. It is initiated by Master Gardeners to serve the community and increase networking opportunities that benefit everyone involved. Proposals should be submitted in writing to coordinator and approved. In addition to approved projects, Ask a Master Gardener and priority projects are approved projects.
Below is a list of some of the projects Master Gardeners are working on. Nancy Pollard must be informed of dates and times you plan to be an event in order for you to be covered by University of Illinois Extension liability insurance.
Projects
2003 MG Conference
Chicago Flower & Garden Show
Crisis Center for South Suburbia
Elim Christian School
Evergreen Community High School Horticulture Class
Federal Courthouse, Hammond, IN
Habitat for Humanity
Humphrey House
Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center
JB Greenhouse "Ask a Master Gardener"
JB Greenhouse Perennial Pot-up Days for Head Start Gardens
Lansing Public Library Atrium and grounds
Matteson Elem School
Park Forest Earth Day
Park Forest Wetlands Restoration Project
Saint Bernadette's Biblical Themed Garden
SID's Flower and Garden Show "Ask a Master Gardener"
St. Lawrence O'Toole
St. Linus gardens
Star Services- spring
Star Services – summer & fall
Worth Veteran's Memorial
Your local public, school, church, temple gardens or hort therapy project. (Return a copy to Nancy Pollard.)
NOTE: In order for you to be covered by University of Illinois Extension liability insurance, notice of your volunteer dates, times and activity must be on record in writing with the Cook/ South Suburban Unit Extension office prior to the event or scheduled activity. Minimal accident insurance (AIL Insurance Co.) will be carried only for specifically scheduled group activity days at Lake Katherine. Master Gardeners should carry their own individual health/ accident insurance.