Program trains educators, volunteers on youth gardening
Paul Schattenberg, 210-859-5752, paschattenberg@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Ruby Zavala, 210-631-0400, Ruby.Zavala@ag.tamu.edu
SAN ANTONIO – The Youth Gardens Program of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service for Bexar County is now accepting applications for its summer Junior Master Gardener Adult Leader Training.
The training is designed for educators and volunteers and will be presented jointly by AgriLife Extension and the Bexar County Master Gardener program. It will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 27-29 at the AgriLife Extension office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Drive, Suite 212, San Antonio.
“This training is designed to teach adult educators and others interested in instructing youth about the basics and benefits of gardening,” said Ruby Zavala, AgriLife Extension youth gardens program coordinator, Bexar County. “Our goal is to give them the resources and confidence they need to implement and sustain a successful youth gardening program in their school or community.”
Zavala said participants will learn how to establish and maintain a youth garden and create a Junior Master Gardener program.
“Participants are trained in the Junior Master Gardener curriculum and can obtain continuing professional education hours for the training,” she said.
Instructional topics will include proper flower dissection, composting, Texas SuperStar plants, fruit and vegetable gardening, Monarch butterfly gardens, rainwater harvesting, vermiculture, herbs and natural resource conservation.
“Along with gardening and horticulture, the program provides a variety of fun and interesting ways for kids to learn about science and develop life skills,” Zavala said.
The training class fee of $100 is non-refundable and must be included with the application. For an application, go to http://Bexar-tx.tamu.edu. The deadline for submission is July 18.
For more information, contact Zavala at 210-631-0400 or Ruby.Zavala@ag.tamu.edu.
-30-