Oregon State University Extension Service

Youth Programs

The Josephine County Master Gardener™ Volunteers works hard to teach basic gardening skills to the youth of various ages in our community. Through our partnership with local schools and agencies, we can deliver gardening education and share the joy and benefits of gardening. As a volunteer working with youth, you must undergo a background history check prior to working on a youth-centered project.

Young Master Gardener Program

Credit: Lynn Ketchum

The Young Master Gardener (YMG) Program is sponsored by Josephine Community Libraries and the Josephine County Master Gardeners. Its purpose is to expand and enrich children's knowledge about plants, gardening, and biology with stories, songs, and hands-on activities. Books related to the topic, both fiction and nonfiction, are used to illustrate, explain, and entertain. OSU certified Master Gardeners conduct the learning sessions at the Grants Pass branch. The ten-year-old YMG program is delivered once a month from September to May. The Grants Pass Library offers two age groups, five and under and six and over

Junior Master Gardener Program

The Junior Master Gardener (JMG) program is an international youth gardening program of the university cooperative Extension network. JMG engages children in novel, “hands-on” group and individual learning experiences that provide a love of gardening, develop an appreciation for the environment and cultivate the mind.

In Josephine County, the Jr. Master Gardener program is a partnership between the Master Gardener program and the 4-H program. JMG is a miniversion of the MG program for fourth and 5th graders. The youth handbook and teacher guide support the JMG to offer horticultural and environmental science education, leadership, and life skills through hands-on, fun, and creative activities. The program is offered as a 7-8 week session three times a year (fall, winter, and spring) at Allen Dale and Highland Elementary. The session meets one afternoon for two hours at each school.

Thank you to the Oregon Department of Education and a Farm to School grant for supporting this work.

The JMG sessions were suspended during the COVID pandemic. If you want to be contacted when the JMG session opens in Allen Dale and Highland Elementary or any future JMG classes, please contact us at 541-476-6613 or sign up for our contact list.

National JMG Website

School Gardens

The Josephine County School Garden program is designed to introduce gardening to young students using a hands-on approach. School gardens help reinforce classroom instructions while providing an engaging, healthy activity that promotes team building and community sense. Master Gardener volunteers help plan, maintain, and educate youth in school gardens around the county.

Current school gardens include:

  • Allen Dale Elementary School
  • Fruitdale Elementary School
  • Highland Elementary School
  • Madrona Elementary School
  • Redwood Elementary School
  • St. Anne's School
Source URL: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/josephine/youth-programs