Guidelines for Master Gardener Volunteer Hours

GUIDELINES FOR MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER HOURS Rev July 20, 2016

 Eligible Volunteer credit: o All projects announced by Rich, Bill, or Angela (in meetings, e-mail or mail) are approved for volunteer credit. o All MG Lecture Bureau presentations are approved for volunteer credit (including Train-the Trainer). o All meetings where no hands-on work is being performed receive a maximum of 1 hour credit per meeting. o Existing, well-established on-going work at Davidson Mill Pond Park (e.g. Help Line, Gardens, Compost Demo Area and Container Maintenance). o Leading the establishment and managing the operation of community, school or public gardens in Middlesex County is approved for volunteer credit with prior approval by Angela, Rich or Bill. (This does not include routine maintenance of that garden or working in a community garden where you harvest food for your own consumption.) o Offsite volunteer work is limited to a maximum of 6 volunteer credits per year (e.g. Rutgers Gardens or routine maintenance of other gardens.) o If you take on volunteer work not specifically listed above, and want volunteer hours credit, you can either: . Have it pre-approved by Angela, Rich or Bill . Do the volunteer work without pre-approval, understanding that credit can be denied by Angela, Rich or Bill if found inappropriate. If you do this, you need to supply a description with your Volunteer Hours Time Sheet, briefly outlining the description of what was done, who participated, when it took place and where it took place.  Eligible Educational opportunity for MG education credit, you can either: o Have it pre-approved by Angela, Rich or Bill o Take the class without pre-approval, understanding that credit can be denied by Angela, Rich or Bill if found inappropriate. If you do this, you need to supply a description with your Volunteer Hours Time Sheet, briefly outlining the description of what was done, who participated, when it took place and where it took place. o Note: If you are taking a course/class/seminar for other pursuits outside of Master Gardening, those credits are still eligible for MG credit as long as the content is found to be acceptable by Angela, Rich or Bill. Again, you can have this pre-approved or approved after the fact with the understanding that credit can be denied if found inappropriate. If you do this, you need to supply a description with your Volunteer Hours Time Sheet, briefly outlining the description of what was done, who participated, when it took place and where it took place.  Master Gardener Intern Requirements --The curriculum requires classroom time, mandatory work sessions and additional volunteer time.

o Class Lecture Time  Required Class Room Lecture Sessions (maximum missed classes = 4)

o Garden Hands On Class Time  Required outdoor Garden Hands On Work Sessions (maximum missed classes = 4)

o Events (maximum missed events = 2)  Required hours include: . Rutgers Day = 3 hours minimum . Earth Center Plant Sale = 3 hours minimum . Open House = 3 hours minimum . (2) Garden Clean-ups (Fall & Spring) = 3 hours minimum each

o Additional Volunteer time = 60 hours

Note: Graduation takes place in the winter after 1 full year of internship is complete. For example, if an intern: . Began classes in the fall of 2016 . Completed lectures and Garden Work sessions by the fall of 2017 . Completed the additional 60 hours of volunteer time The soonest graduation would take place is February of 2018. Graduation can take place the following year if an Intern needs more time to complete the requirements.