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 program from July 24-26 in San Antonio
The training is designed for educators and volunteers and will be presented jointly by AgriLife Extension and the Bexar County Master Gardeners. It will be held at the AgriLife Extension office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Drive, Suite 212. Times will be from noon-4:30 p.m. July 24; from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. July 25; and from 9 a.m.-noon July 26.
“This training is for educators and others interested in instructing youths about the basics and benefits of gardening,” said Ruby Zavala, AgriLife Extension youth gardens program coordinator, Bexar County. “Educators will learn about hands-on group and individual learning experiences that will provide youths with an appreciation for the environment and help cultivate their minds.”
Zavala said the training is intended to give participants the resources and confidence they need to implement and sustain a successful youth gardening program in their schools or communities.
“Participants will learn how to establish and sustain a youth garden, receive training in the JMG program, learn how to develop their own JMG program and obtain continuing professional education hours,” she said.
Zavala said the $100 registration fee is “very reasonable” due to financial support from the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo.
“The registration cost pays for one JMG curriculum of your choice, refreshments and fees for a field trip on Friday,” she said.
There is a $40 additional cost for each added curriculum.
For an application, go to https://bexar-tx.tamu.edu. The registration fee along with any additional curriculum training purchases must be included with an application, and the final fee is non-refundable.
Make checks payable to HORT-ACCT 218310-60016. Mail the completed application with payment by July 20 to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Attn: Ruby Zavala, 3355 Cherry Ridge Drive, Suite 212, San Antonio, Texas 78230-4818.
Curriculum training offered for instruction of third- through fifth-grade students and aligned to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards are:
— Level 1 Junior Master Gardener Teacher Leader Guide.
— Learn, Grow, Eat and Go!
— Wildlife in the Garden.
— Literature in the Garden.
Curriculum training offered for instruction of sixth- through eighth-grade students aligned to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards are:
— Level 2 Operation Thistle: Seeds of Despair Plant Growth and Development.
— Level 2 Operation W.A.T.E.R. — Dr. Thistle Goes Underground: Soils and Water.
“Along with gardening and horticulture, the training provides adults with a variety of fun and interesting ways to get kids to learn about science and develop life skills,” Zavala said.
For more information, contact Zavala at 210-631-0400 or Ruby.Zavala@ag.tamu.edu.
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Writer: Paul Schattenberg, 210-859-5752, paschattenberg@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Ruby Zavala, 210-631-0400, Ruby.Zavala@ag.tamu.edu