Horticulture | Georgia Master Gardener
Agents & Coordinators
Master Gardener Advanced Training Program
To date, participants of the Master Gardener Advanced Training Program have received Silver Star recognition to denote their educational advancement in horticulture-related subjects. The Master Gardener Program, through the State Office, continually strives to meet its basic goal of training volunteers at all levels to assist the UGA CAES. To meet that primary goal, periodic re-assessment and re-structure of existing programs may be necessary.
The Georgia Master Gardener Assocation transferred the management of the Advanced Training Program back to the UGA MG State Program Office in November 2005. Due to economically-related budget cuts and staff reductions, along with society's demands for specialized horticultural information, a restructure of the MG Advanced Training Program has been initiated. Program goals remain the same: increase MG learning in order to assist with Cooperative Extension delivery of educational programs to the community. In order to better utilize Master Gardeners with Advanced Training, it is necessary to expand the Advanced Training Program itself from generalist subjects to specialty areas of expertise.
Silver Star Level
This level includes all MG's who have already completed the Advanced Training Program. MG's who have an incomplete status in the Advanced Training Program will receive credit for courses taken and may finish the program by completing the requirements. This is a generalist level and recognizes those volunteers who have completed general training in a variety of subjects.
Program modules previously approved by GMGA and/or State MG Program Office have now been incorporated into the newly designated categories (see History).
Requirements:
- Master Gardeners must have initially completed the MG Training and 50 hour volunteer work requirement, current active status, and County Extension Office written approval.
- MG's must successfully complete 5 elective modules (from Category List). Module duration is 6-7 hours of class time.
- New requirement now includes the completion of 1 of the required modules: Creative Teaching Techniques module or Leadership: Building a Dynamic MG Network module (counts as one of the 5) (includes those with Master Gardeners
- with incomplete status, i.e. Master Gardeners who have not completed 5 Advanced Training Courses before November 1, 2005)
- At class registration or before attending classes, participants will sign a letter of intent or a Memorandum of Understanding to continue to volunteer 25 hours of service in the year after Advanced Training completed.
Gold Star Level
This level will include training in a specialty subject area. For this level only two electives taken in previous years will count toward the required modules. MG's who want to attain Gold level must take all other required modules. Master Gardeners do not need to have earned the Silver Star to in order to qualify for the Gold Star program.
Requirements:
- MG's must have initially completed the MG Training and 50 hour volunteer work requirement, have current active status and County Extension Office written approval.
- Must select one of the following specific subject areas:
Sustainable Garden and Landscape
Water Quality and Management
Youth Gardening
Diagnostics & Technology
Urban Forestry and Ecology - 6 Total modules required (3 modules within specialty subject area, 2 elective modules, 1 required module = Communications, Creative Teaching Techniques or Leadership: Building a Dynamic MG Network).
- Volunteer Project (related to specialty subject area) must be completed and a project package (part of the Gold Star Application) must be submitted to CEA with copy to State Office.
- Project approval is required before and after project completion by County Extension Office.
- Agreement to be a resource for the chosen specialty subject area is required.
- Gold-level MG's should gain at least one "CEU" per year to maintain an active status: seminars and lectures given by recognized speakers or plant societies, and pre-approved by County Extension Office for credits on an hour-per-hour basis in the subject of specialty.
Advanced Training General Guidelines
- Future programs may identify new subjects or specialties.
- Pre and post evaluations will continue to be used to measure impact and ensure quality of training. Participants must demonstrate mastery of the course objectives of each module.
- Diplomas and pins will be issued when all requirements are fulfilled.
- There should be a minimum of 25 to a maximum of 50 participants per training.
- The host county shall determine total participant numbers from other counties to be included, facility location, and class subject for that Advanced Training Program.
- Training fees/costs of approx. $30.00 to $50.00 per participant per module are calculated to cover all expenses; any residual funds may be divided equally between the Host County and State Office.
- Training sites should be accessible to program participants and have sufficient material and human resources to conduct specialized training.
- In general, the modules will be very much like what we have done in the past with training responsibilities shared between the State Office, District Offices, GMGA, and host counties. We will work to ensure that the required modules Creative Teaching Techniques and Leadership: Building a Dynamic MG Network are each offered at least yearly.
- We are evaluating the possibility of holding a multi-day "Master Gardener College" event annually at Rock Eagle, Athens or other facility that has overnight accommodations at a reasonable cost.
- The addition of the MG gold star level is designed to encourage Master Gardeners to specialize in a particular area that would assist the UGA CAES with meeting goals in priority areas. The addition of a project requirement helps validate the training and create a ripple effect. Projects are approved by the County Extension Office and suggested projects might be: teaching a series of classes, preparing lesson plans, writing fact sheets, preparing multimedia presentations.
Advanced Training Program Responsibilities
State Program Office
- Maintain database of trainings and participants
- Issue certificates and badges
- Develop criteria
- Promotion of program
- Assist with advertisement of training
- Plan training schedule
- Plan and conduct training sessions as needed
- Help locate/secure speakers or UGA specialists
County Extension Office Hosting Advanced Training
- Contact State Office to plan & schedule training
- Set-up speakers and facilities
- Advertise program (State Office will assist)
- Collect registrations and fees
- Ensure a minimum of 25 and a maximum of 50 participants registered for training
- Ensure that pre and post evaluations are given
- Send spreadsheet with names and contact info to State Office for recordkeeping and certificates
- Provide support
- Prepare a budget designed to cover all training expenses with an approx. cost range of $30.00 to $50.00 per participant per module; any residual funds to be equally divided between the host county and the State Coordinator's Office
- Adhere to criteria developed or maintained by State Coordinator's Offce.
GMGA
- Help advertise program
- Work with State Office and local programs to schedule training with GMGA conferences if possible
- Provide feedback
Master Gardeners
- Maintain active status
- Make a commitment to volunteer 25 hours annually during and upon completion of Advanced Training
- Record and report volunteer hours
- Successfully complete required modules
- Complete project and paperwork
- Agree to serve as a resource for County Extension