{"id":15712,"date":"2020-12-11T15:28:34","date_gmt":"2020-12-11T20:28:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/?page_id=15712"},"modified":"2026-04-17T15:49:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T19:49:42","slug":"training","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/master-gardeners\/training\/","title":{"rendered":"Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For your community.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/01\/IMG_8358-e1548188972634.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-10379 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/01\/IMG_8358-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Purple Coneflower\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Flexible, Online Learning At Your Own Pace<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Applications for 2025-2026 course are closed.<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>We will be pausing all three of our training programs for a year to focus on updating our training content, as part of our five-year review cycle. Check back summer 2027 for information about how to apply for the next training.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Want to stay in the loop?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.us20.list-manage.com\/subscribe?u=a1cf4a5b2845aebdbba1bf076&amp;id=98f9beb328\">Subscribe to the Maine Home Garden News for updates<\/a> and explore <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/engage\/\">local horticulture volunteer opportunities and county resources.<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>About the course:<\/h3>\n<p>Flexible online learning plus hands-on volunteering make this program ideal for those looking to give back to their communities.<\/p>\n<p>We offer three versions of our in-depth training, based on your interests. <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/which-horticulture-training-is-right-for-you\/\">Which of our in-depth courses is right for you?<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>What\u2019s Included:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Engaging videos<\/li>\n<li>Informative readings<\/li>\n<li>Interactive activities<\/li>\n<li>Thought-provoking reflection questions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Learn about:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Course Orientation, Volunteerism, Food Systems and Security<\/li>\n<li>Foundations of Horticulture: Ecology, Botany, Propagation, Soils, Composting<\/li>\n<li>Food Production: Vegetable Gardening, Garden Maintenance, Food Safety, Small and Tree Fruits<\/li>\n<li>Garden Pests and Diseases: Prevention, Identification and Management<\/li>\n<li>Maine Landscape and Design: Plant Selection, Design, and Maintenance<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/learn\/maine-horticulture-learning-standards\/\">Full Learning Standards Available Here.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Experience:<\/h3>\n<p>Complete a 40-hour volunteer internship in 2026 to become certified as a Master Gardener Volunteer, and 20 hours a year annually to stay enrolled.<\/p>\n<h3>Earn:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The title of Maine Master Gardener Volunteer<\/li>\n<li>7 Continuing Education Credits (CEUs)<\/li>\n<li>Maine Master Gardener Volunteer digital badge. Learn about <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/micro-credentials\/\">UMaine\u2019s Micro-Credentials<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Course Details:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>2025 Course Fee: <\/strong><strong>$400<\/strong>, with self-selected sliding scale options available ($200 and $100). Please contact us if the course fee is a barrier for participation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Schedule:\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Online training:<\/strong> Typically late October through late March with several breaks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>40-hour volunteer internship:<\/strong> After online training, typically March &#8211; December<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Format: <\/strong>Online, self-paced through the Brightspace learning platform, with optional live or recorded Zoom Q&amp;A sessions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Technology Requirements: <\/strong><strong>This is an online course.<\/strong> Reliable internet, an email address, and a device with video\/audio (laptop, desktop, tablet) are required. Older devices or outdated software may cause technical problems with the course, and smartphones are not recommended.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is online learning right for you? <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/learn\/online-learning-what-you-need-to-succeed\/\">Learn more about the technology and skills required for online learning as well as options for those with limited computer or internet access.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Time commitment: <\/strong>18 week course, 4 &#8211; 5 hours per week followed by a 40-hour volunteer internship.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Refund Policy: <\/strong>50% refunds available before November 1st, 2025 (for 25\/26 course).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Access<\/strong>: You will have access to the course content in Brightspace through the end of the calendar year.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Transferring<\/strong>: Information about <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/learn\/which-horticulture-training-is-right-for-you\/\">transferring between our training programs<\/a> available under \u201cFAQs.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Have Questions?<\/strong>\u00a0 Contact us at: <a href=\"mailto:extension.gardening@maine.edu\">extension.gardening@maine.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Rebecca Gray at email <a href=\"mailto:extension.gardening@maine.edu\">extension.gardening@maine.edu<\/a> or phone 207.356.1348.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Our Other Training Programs:<\/h3>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/DITCH-GARDEN-Joe-Pie-Monarch-resized-9.19-LIZ-copy.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-22681 size-thumbnail alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/DITCH-GARDEN-Joe-Pie-Monarch-resized-9.19-LIZ-copy-150x150.jpeg\" alt=\"Monarch butterfly flying over Joe Pye weed with a summer sky and a few thin clouds.\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/learn\/maine-gardener-training\/\">Maine Gardener Training: for your garden.<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/IMG_1403-resized-photo-from-Pamela-Hargest-copy.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-22678 size-thumbnail alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/IMG_1403-resized-photo-from-Pamela-Hargest-copy-150x150.jpeg\" alt=\"2 people planting in a raised bed with greenhouse in background\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/IMG_1403-resized-photo-from-Pamela-Hargest-copy-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/IMG_1403-resized-photo-from-Pamela-Hargest-copy-32x32.jpeg 32w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/learn\/maine-horticulture-apprentice-training-micro-credential\/\">Maine Horticulture Apprentice Training: for your career.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For your community. Flexible, Online Learning At Your Own Pace Applications for 2025-2026 course are closed. We will be pausing all three of our training programs for a year to focus on updating our training content, as part of our five-year review cycle. Check back summer 2027 for information about how to apply for the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":14043,"parent":5,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/page-withsidebar.php","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15712","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/master-gardeners\/training\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For your community. 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