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.
Here is an incomplete 2009 list of the activities of our 130 wonderful Cook County/South Suburban Master Gardeners. They volunteer their time and knowledge to help the residents of Cook County "Learn to Grow."
Ask the Master Gardener Office, U of I Matteson office - Answer Client Questions
4-H Fair Judge, Superintendent or Activity
4-H Horticulture Project Workshop
Arbor Day / Earth Day Fair - Worth
Arbor Day / Earth Day - Country Club Hills
Ask the Master Gardener Booth - Evergreen Park Public Library
Ask the Master Gardener Booth - Irons Oaks
Ask the Master Gardener Booth - LaGrange Public Library
Ask the Master Gardener Booth - Lemont Public Library
Ask the Master Gardener Booth - Ray's Quality Greenhouse
Ask the Master Gardener Booth - Sid's Garden Center (2009)
Bethshan Association II Garden
Beverly Arts Center Beautification
Brookfield Beautification
Chicago - Millennium Park - Lurie Garden ASK ME PROGRAM
Chicago - Millennium Park - Lurie Garden (Family Fun Tent Event)
Chicago Flower and Garden Show
Chicago Heights Beautification Projects
Children's Gardening Programs at Chgo Hts Library
CoCoRaHS
Dorn School Garden, Hickory Hills
Earth Day Fair - Oak Lawn
ELIM Christian Services - Landscape Restoration
Evergreen Park Community High School Garden
Evergreen Park Public Library Garden
Faith United Presbyterian Church Garden
Farmers Market - Country Club Hills
Farmers Market - LaGrange
Farmers Market - Lemont
Farmers Market - Orland Park
Farmers Market - Park Forest
Farmers Market - Thornton
Farmers Market - Tinley Park
Faye's Light Organic Gardens
Flossmoor Park District - Adopt-A-Garden Project
Garden Maintenance at Woman and Youth Homes
Greenhouse Groupies in Oak Lawn
Habitat for Humanity Planting
Harvey Earth Day
Harvey Vegetable Gardens
Homewood Arts & Garden Fair
Homewood Beautification
Homewood Chocolate Fest
Homewood Church Gardens
Homewood Flossmoor High School Rain Garden
Homewood Millennium School Garden
Homewood Tree Committee Meetings
Homewood Willow School Garden
Homewood-Flossmoor Park Pride Day Group
Illinois School Garden, Park Forest
Illinois School Garden Club
Jones Center Family Play Lot , Chicago Heights
Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanic Gardens - Tour Guide
Lake Katherine - Arbor Day
Lake Katherine - Butterfly Fest
Lake Katherine - I Love Palos Days
Lake Katherine – Chicago River Clean Up Day
Lake Katherine - Tend Any Garden
Lowell School Theme Garden, Harvey
Museum of Science and Industry Smart Home Garden Docent
Native Seed Gardeners
Queen of Martyrs Gardens
Respond Now Community Garden, Chicago Heights
Sand Ridge FPDCC Earth Day
Sand Ridge FPDCC Nature Center Gardens
Speakers Bureau (SB) (Body Smart Gardening) - Evergreen Park Public Library
SB (Butterfly Gardening) - Lansing Public Library
SB (Butterfly Gardening) - Little Company of Mary Support Group
SB (Organic Vegetable Gardening) - Oak Lawn Public Library
SB (Plant a Centerpiece Bowl with Salad Greens) - EP Library
SB (Roses) - Homewood Woman's Club
SB (Shade Gardening) - South Holland Public Library
SB (Shade Gardening) Park Forest Garden Club
SB (Trees are Terrific) - Palos Preschool
SB (Trees are Terrific) - St. Christopher School
SB (Trees are Terrific) - Willow School Homewood
SB (Watersheds) - Road to College Summer Academy, Harvey
SB (Worm Composting) - St. Christopher Elementary
SB (Worms, Worms) - Prince & Princess Daycare Center, Harvey
SB (Worms ) - Road to College Summer Academy, Harvey
SB (Worms) Chicago Hts Lib Kindergardeners
SB (Worms) Family Enrichment Center, Riverdale
SLOT Plots Matteson
St. Linus School Gardens, Oak Lawn
Thornton Beautification
Tinley Park Victory Garden
Tours at Lake Katherine (LK) Palos Heights - (Going Buggy) - Clissold School
Tours at LK - (Going Buggy) - Fierke Edu Center
Tours at LK - (Going Buggy) - Memorial School
Tours at LK - (Going Buggy) - Palos Hts Park Dist
Tours at LK - (Going Buggy) - Stoney Creek School
Tours at LK - (I Spy Spring) - Ashburn School
Tours at LK - (I Spy Spring) - Bobbie Noonan
Tours at LK - (I Spy Spring) - Fernway Park School
Tours at LK - (I Spy Spring) - Hannum School
Tours at LK - (I Spy Spring) - Harnew School
Tours at LK - (I Spy Spring) - Kerkstra School
Tours at LK - (I Spy Spring) - Queen of Martyrs
Tours at LK - (I Spy Spring) - Quinn School
Tours at LK - (Lakes, Ponds, Rivers, Streams) - Chgo SW Christian
Tours at LK - (Salamanders, Turtles, Frogs) - Center School
Tours at LK - (Salamanders, Turtles, Frogs) - Eberhart School
Tours at LK - (Salamanders, Turtles, Frogs) - Morton Gingerwood
Tours at LK - (Salamanders, Turtles, Frogs) - Prairie School
Tours at LK - (Water World) - Luther Burbank School
Tours at LK - (What Did The Pioneer's See?) - Indian Trail School
Tours at LK - (Where Does Rain Go?) - Clissold School
Tours at LK - (Who's Whoo?) - Burroughs School
Tours at LK - (Who's Whoo?) - Jordan Baptist School
Tours at LK - (Who's Whoo?) - Lincoln School
Tours at LK - (Who's Whoo?) - Mc Auliffe School
Tours at LK - (Winging It) - St. Christopher School
NOTE: In order for Master Gardener activity 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, and the volunteer must follow University standards.
Master Gardeners should carry their own individual health/ accident insurance.
