How to Get Started It takes a

How to Get Started § It takes a Team! • 4 -H Agents • ANR Agents • FCS Agents • VCE-MG Volunteers • 4 -H Volunteers • Parents • Youth

How to Get Started: What is a 4 -H JMG Club? § § § Minimum of 2 adult leaders Minimum of 5 youth Obtain JMGsm materials JMG registration 4 -H enrollment

How to Get Started: Recruitment? § Create awareness • Community events • Media • • • VCE newsletters School and community organizations Mailings to green industry

How to Get Started: Recruitment? § New groups • Schools, home schoolers • Community centers, community gardens § Existing groups • Other youth organizations • Existing 4 -H Clubs • Existing JMGsm groups

How to Get Started: Enrollment § Complete JMG Registration Agreement form § Complete 4 -H group enrollment form § Complete 4 -H leader enrollment § Obtain VCE-MG project approval § Submit all forms to Unit Agent • agent sends copy of forms to Joe Hunnings at the state 4 -H office

How to Get Started: Why Enroll in 4 -H? § § § Support from VCE 4 -H and MG vols VCE horticulture support materials Liability protection for 4 -H youth and adult volunteers

How to Get Started: Resource Materials § Teacher/Leader Guide & Youth Handbooks • Available through the national JMG office xwww. jmgkids. com • And the National 4 -H Council Source Book xwww. 4 -Hmall. org

How to Get Started: Resource Materials § Unit Office and VCE Intranet • 4 -H Enrollment forms • • • JMG book order form Trainee record keeping sheets Chapter completion stickers § State 4 -H Office • Certificates

How to Get Started: Resource Materials § Existing VCE Materials • VCE-MG Handbook, Extension publications, existing VCE educational programs § Other Support Materials • Websites, books, existing 4 -H curriculum

How to Get Started: Program Costs § § Enrollment is FREE! Handbook costs- • Level 1 Youth – approx. $20; Leader Guide $40 • Youth handbooks are not required for each child § Activity supplies • Most activities use common household and garden materials § Any needed garden supplies

When to get started? § § Anytime Indoor and outdoor activities A garden is not a requirement No time requirement for completion • we recommend 6 months to 1 year

Additional Benefits of JMGsm Affiliation § Your group will receive a cool registration certificate § Your own JMGsm web page § JMGsm Updates on upcoming JMGsm news and events § Use of JMGsm Service mark

So, now you are a Certified 4 -H JMG. . .

Activities for 4 -H Junior Master Gardeners: Serve as junior 4 -H JMG leaders Serve as a local spokesperson for JMG Participate in additional volunteer opportunities § Participate in advanced training § § §

Hey, how about another break? break

Instructional design - Chapter planning § Work towards goals § Avoid random acts of education

Planning Your Club’s Activities § Identify outcomes for the goals of • environmental stewardship • horticultural knowledge • life skill development § Identify an educational community service project § Identify activities to support educational community service project and outcomes

Examples of Outcomes § Determine environmental stewardship outcomes Awareness: community environmental assets • Attitudes: create community pride • • Behavior: increase use of recycling

Examples of Outcomes § Determine horticulture knowledge outcomes such as: • Importance and use of Plants • Balance and interactions in nature • Understand the value of healthy eating habits

Examples of Outcomes § Determine Life Skills Outcomes: §Problem solving §Caring for others §Working in a team §Preventing disease

Identify Your Educational Community Service Project § Select a project that • Meets your goals • Meets identified community needs based on VCE unit or school priorities

Identify Your Educational Community Service Project § Select a project that: Provides youth an understanding of their community and a connection to it • Provides motivation for completion and certification •

Select Activities that: § Provide opportunities to reach life outcomes. § Develop environmentally sound, awareness, attitudes and behaviors § Teach horticultural knowledge and skills § Advance towards JMG certification

Conducting Activities § Plan • Involve youth & parents • Involve the community § Practice first • Make sure it works!! § Prepare • Collect resources • Ensure that the activities fit the child’s ability and financial resources.

Conducting Activities § Ensure safety § Involve the youth in the entire process • Help with set up • Help with clean up • Provide time to record the day’s accomplishments …pictures, writing, stories, charts • Keep your VCE records, too

Conducting Activities § Celebrate the small steps § Highlight the FUN § Encourage through the hard parts § Be free with compliments § Laugh

4 -H Junior Master Gardeners

The JMGsm Teacher/Leader’s Guide § Complements youth handbook § Guide contains: • • • 392 page guide (black&white) Introduction and management guide Chapter group activities Community Service/ Leadership projects

Teacher/Leader Guide § Helpful appendices • “Working with young people” pp. 228 -229 • “Teaching techniques” pp. 230 -231 • Stages of Growth/Development pp. 232 -236 • Work sheets, fun pages, songs, and additional resource materials

Youth Handbook § Eight exciting chapters § Many enjoyable activities § Suggested Leadership/ Community Service Projects § 186 pages of full color

JMG Junior Master Gardener Curriculum Chapter 1: Plant Growth and Development Chapter 2: Soils and Water Chapter 3: Ecology & Environmental Horticulture § Chapter 4: Insects and Diseases § § § § Chapter 5: 6: 7: 8: Landscape Horticulture Fruits and Nuts Vegetables and Herbs Life Skills and Career Exploration

Things You Can Do in the Program. . . § Make plantable greeting cards. . . § Discover insect habitats. . . § Use candy to learn about soil aggregates. . . § Find out how trees help save money. . . § Create your own weed mats. . . § Conduct a veggie taste test… § and more!

Thanks for your “It is marvelous to plant a bed and watch it attention! grow. The kids do it themselves, watering, staking, weeding; they do it all! I can’t begin to express the added joy and learning that has gone on in my classroom because of this program. You will see not only a garden grow, but your students grow as well. ” Jennifer Stein, 5 th grade teacher St. Joseph Eagles JMG Group

Thanks for your attention! Questions?