UC Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development & Master Gardener Programs

UC Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development & Master Gardener Programs

Last updated on August 23, 2011

THE 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The University of California 4-H Youth Development Program engages youth in reaching their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development.

High quality 4-H activities engage youth in subject area topics (content) in an environment (context) where youth feel safe and free to share, learn, and grow. Focusing on both content and context is a critical piece in helping youth thrive.
Research shows that when youth are engaged and self-direct their own learning, the learning is optimized. Adult volunteers and teen educators are essential to this learning - facilitating the learning process using hands-on, experiential methods, where youth are free to explore.
The content of 4-H programs focus on science, engineering and technology; healthy living; and citizenship. These subject areas clearly describe program priorities and provide a framework to organize and focus program development, management, and implementation strategies.

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THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM

The UC Master Gardeners are trained volunteers that provide information, workshops, and programs for home gardeners. Public information resources offered by Master Gardeners include plant, pest and problem identification, compost production, and cultural practices for growing vegetables, fruits, and ornamental plants.

Master Gardener volunteers are recruited and trained by land- grant universities throughout the United States and Canada. Local programs are coordinated by horticulture Advisors at county University of California Cooperative Extension offices with a primary goal to answer the myriad of questions from home gardeners. Master Gardeners extend to their communities the benefits of horticulture research developed at the University level. Master Gardeners have become an important connection for the University of California to the public sector.
The University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program is a voluntary educational program. The purpose is to teach sustainable gardening and landscaping practices and to effectively extend the research-based information produced by the University to the public, with a primary focus on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. The Master Gardener role is primarily that of “educator”.

Description:
THE 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

HEAD, HEART, HANDS, HEATH
Growing Youth who Thrive!

The 4-H Youth Development Program provides boys and girls ages 5 - 19 with exciting, learn-by-doing educational projects and activities designed to help them develop into responsible, self-directed, productive citizens of their community. The goals of youth development are to improve the well-being of youth and society through the use of research-based educational experience.

Santa Barbara County's 4-H Youth Development Program:

• Serves over 2,500 youth annually
• Oversees 15 4-H Community Clubs located throughout the county
• Involves over 220 adult volunteers in educational programs
• Includes a residential summer camp
• Supports 4-H after-school projects at Vandenberg AFB
• Has developed successful, innovative and collaborative programs, such as Neighborhood GreenNet and Agua Pura
  
  

Our 4-H Youth Development Advisor and staff manage the 4-H club and after-school programs, develop new programs to meet emerging needs, and collaborate with other youth-serving organizations, connecting them to the resources of the University of California.

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THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM

What is the Master Gardener Program?

The Master Gardener is a volunteer program providing education to the community that has developed in response to meet the growing interest of home gardeners for science-based, current horticultural information. The Master Gardener program also offers its participants a sense of community spirit and pride, and personal accomplishment and intellectual stimulation.

The Master Gardener programs occur in over 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. In California, the Master Gardener program is part of the University of California’s Cooperative Extension (UCCE). In Santa Barbara County the program is advised by a University of California Horticultural Advisor working with the Master Gardener Executive Committee.

Why do we need a Master Gardener program?
Gardening is the number one hobby in the United States. As a result, there is a critical need for volunteers to communicate accurate and current research-based horticultural information to home gardeners and horticultural professionals.

What do I need to do to become a certified Master Gardener?
Following a review of application materials, orientation, interview, and acceptance into the program, trainees attend 50 hours of classes that provide the most current, accepted practices in horticulture. The University of California Cooperative Extension Farm Advisors and Extension Specialists, and other community experts teach classes.

In exchange for the 50 hours of training, a Master Gardener trainee agrees to serve at least 50 hours as a volunteer during the year following training. Certified Master Gardeners serve as volunteer agents of the University of California. Additionally, Master Gardeners are required to receive 12 hours of continuing education each year.

What is a volunteer commitment?
By acceptance into the Master Gardener Program, you will be committing to volunteer service. The program is designed to provide you with the resources to use in Master Gardener educational activities with the University of California Cooperative Extension. Master Gardeners maintain their active status by attending continuing education training and monthly meetings, participating in volunteer activities and projects that complete the required number of annual volunteer hours.

How do I qualify?
All you need is a desire to expand your knowledge of horticulture and an enthusiasm for giving your time to share your horticultural skills with the community.

What are some Master Gardener volunteer opportunities?
Some examples are:
*Master Gardener Helpline
*Master Gardener sponsored educational activities and events
*Mentoring school garden programs
*Programs in public education and community service
Community Events (e.g. Earth Day, Home & Garden
Show, Sustainability Fair, etc.)
*Master Gardener Butterfly Garden at Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden

When can I use the title "Master Gardener?"
The title, "Master Gardener," is to be used only and exclusively while serving with University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program and not for commercial purposes. Persons are expected to identify themselves as Master Gardeners only when performing volunteer work in this program.

History:
THE 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The 4-H Program was started in 1913 in California. The first 4-H groups were organized in Santa Barbara County in 1925. The 4-H Youth Development Program is in every county in California. You will recognize 4-H by its green clover. What you may not know is that 4-H is for everybody, for all young people in California, whether they’re in small towns, big cities, or anything in between. Today, 4-H in California is 130,000 young people learning, achieving, and giving back to their communities, supported by 20,000 caring and enthusiastic adult volunteers.

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THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM

Master Gardeners were organized to help answer questions from home gardeners that, as the communities grew, could not be handled by the County Extension Advisor alone. As the volume of horticulture calls coming in from the communities increased, the obvious need for this type of program emerged. The program was first introduced in California in 1979. The Santa Barbara chapter was organized in 1990.

Contact people:

Sherry Mills, 4-H Program Representative, (phone), (email) Mary Bianchi, Master Gardener Program Advisor, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (805) 893-3497

Address:

University Of California Cooperative Extension 6950 Hollister Ave., Suite 275 Goleta, CA 93117 (See a map)

Web Site: http://cesantabarbara.ucdavis.edu

Directions:

From the South: Exit Highway 101 at Storke Road Exit. Turn left on Storke Road towards Hollister Ave. Turn right into the Hollister Research Center. From the North: Exit Highway 101 at Storke Road Exit. Right on Storke Road towards Hollister. . . (more)

Last updated on August 23, 2011