Successful applicants must complete both the Trainee classroom requirements and the Intern hours detailed below to attain Master Gardener Status.
Trainee
Trainees must complete classroom lectures (live or recorded), labs, and demonstrations plus a number of field trips totaling at least 60 hours. The classes are conducted twice weekly for a period of 10 to 12 weeks, late-January through mid-April. Live classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 12:30.
For full-time/daytime work individuals, there is an option to review the taped live class in the evenings or weekend. You must stay on track with the daytime trainees. So 2 classes per week with homework due on Sunday to show the classes were completed.
With successful completion of the class work, Trainees graduate to become Interns.
Intern
Interns must complete at least 75 hours of internship by December 31st of the year completing the classroom instruction. The 75 hour commitment breaks down into the following requirement categories for those not working full daytime:
- 25 hours of service on the Loudoun County Master Gardener Volunteer virtual Help Desk.
- 25 hours of service at the Demonstration and Teaching Garden at Ida Lee Park, Leesburg. The main Demo Garden hours are Tuesday and Thursdays 9:00 am to noon mid-March through mid-October. Hours go 8:00 am to 11:00 am during heat of summer.
- 25 hours of other services, such as participation on committees and supporting special events/priority projects. This includes one Healthy Virginia Lawn visit to a client residence, as well as participation in school/community garden efforts when available. It also includes certification of your property (or knowledge of) through the VCE Loudoun Master Gardener My Backyard program, a natural resource conservation program here in Loudoun.
For those working full-time or with daytime commitments:
- 25 hours of volunteer service on the Loudoun County Master Gardener Volunteer virtual Help Desk.
- 25 hours of volunteer service at Garden Clinics. These are held on Saturdays, May through October.
- 25 hours of Other program teams/services. If work schedule permits, participation on committees or team meetings and supporting special events/priority projects. This category includes one mandatory Healthy Virginia Lawn visit to a client residence, 3 Saturdays at the Demo Garden (6 hours), as well as certification of your property (or knowledge of) through the VCE Loudoun Master Gardener My Backyard program, a natural resource conservation program here in Loudoun.
Interns are trained for their volunteer activities and are paired with experienced Extension Master Gardeners for those activities. Internship runs through December, with that and the completion of the 75 hours as stated above, Interns are certified as Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteers.
Master Gardener
In order to maintain Master Gardener status, volunteers must complete every year:
- 25 volunteer hours
- 8 hours continuing education
For any questions on training, please contact LCMGTraining@gmail.com.
