This document printed from the University of Illinois Extension Rock Island County at http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/rockisland/
Helping Others Learn to Grow The Illinois Master Gardener program is an educational volunteer training program offered by the Extension Service of the University of Illinois. 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.
The Master Gardener program provides invaluable training and educational opportunities. Amateur horticulturists and others seeking up-to-date horticultural information can advance their gardening expertise, and gain self-satisfaction through helping others. The volunteer aspect of the Master Gardener program allows individuals to dedicate their time and talents to enhancing the quality of life for citizens of their community through horticultural education.
How to become a Master Gardener To become a Master Gardener, you must fill out and submit an application to the Rock Island County Extension Unit. After the Master Gardener coordinator reviews the application, you may be invited for a short interview. Following acceptance into the program, the trainee begins the core training. This includes daytime classes taught once a week for 11 weeks, beginning in mid to late January. Attendance for all 11 classes is mandatory. Classes are taught by University of Illinois specialists and extension educators. Class topics include Botany, Soils, Vegetables, Fruits, Flowers, Trees and Shrubs, Grasses, Landscaping, Insects, and Diseases. A fee is charged for the training and includes a training manual. Upon successful completion of the classroom training units and passing the final exam, you will become a Master Gardener Intern. The internship consists of fulfilling volunteer hours approximately equal to the number of hours of classroom training received. Certified Master Gardeners are those who have completed their classroom training and internship. To be an active Master Gardener you must remain current in annual educational updates and volunteer service hours required by the local program.
