Florida Master Gardener Training Program of Broward County Trainee Application Form UF-IFAS/Broward County Extension Education, Parks & Recreation Division The Florida Master Gardener Training Program of Broward County is comprised of 130 contact hours, taught through one 9 hour session every Thursday over 15 weeks, wherein lectures, labs and field trips deliver research-based information to the trainee on Florida-Friendly Landscaping (FFL) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The purpose of this training is to empower and certify Florida Master Gardener volunteers who will be willing and able to carry out educational programming on Florida-Friendly Landscaping and Integrated Pest Management to the residents of Broward County, in order to resolve problems encountered while managing urban landscapes. The ultimate hope is to educate residents and their respective communities to adopt FFL and IPM principles, thereby reducing fertilizer and pesticide use, and reduce water use, and nonpoint source pollution. Upon successful training course completion, a Master Gardener Trainee is required to volunteer a minimum of 75 hours (40 of which must be done at a public service center) within one calendar year of the training course s final exam, to become a Certified Florida Master Gardener. For each year thereafter, each Master Gardener is required to complete a minimum of 35 hours volunteer service and 10 hours of advanced Master Gardener Continuing Education to remain active and certified as a Florida Master Gardener. Classes are scheduled to meet on Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from March to mid-june, at various venues including Plantation Heritage Park and Fern Forest Nature Center, with field trips to Broward County natural areas, local nurseries and state parks. Applications may be submitted anytime, or at the time of interview. A color scan of your drivers license must be attached, along with signatures on the relevant Volunteer application Form. All signatures on forms MUST be in blue ink. Service Requirements, Background Check and Computer Requirements While being a resident of Broward County is not required, you must serve all of your 75 preapproved hours (40 in the office) doing nonprofit volunteer work in Broward County.
The nature of our program requires that you have daily computer access and a working private e-mail account to be eligible because all notices regarding class homework assignments, volunteering opportunities, volunteer hour reporting, and other information are communicated only via e-mail and through the secured Florida Volunteer Management System https://florida.volunteersystem.org/users/index.cfm. You must bring a laptop, tablet or ipad to class every meeting in order to follow along with lectures and to look up information during exams. We do not have laptops for use by students in class. All handouts are given on one class DVD which is distributed with your supplies. What does it cost? The course fee is $275, which covers the cost of educational materials (books, ID card decks, handouts) and a good faith security deposit of $200. The deposit will be returned once the 75 approved volunteer hours are served within the first calendar year after successful completion of the course. How can I apply to take the Master Gardener Training Class? To apply for the Master Gardener training class, you may complete the application form, print and sign it in blue ink, complete, print and sign the Interviews are necessary and will be held the last two weeks of the month before the start of class. Please bring a photo I.D. to the interview. You will receive information via e-mail with the specific days and times, if you are on the contact list. If you need additional information on the next Master Gardener class, please contact the Horticulture Technician. View current class information (PDF). Required Plug-ins: Adobe Reader
Name Preferred Name for Name Tag Address City State Zip County E-mail Address Day Phone # Cell Phone # Home Phone # Have you ever applied for the Florida Master Gardener Program before? If so, where? Why do you wish to become a Master Gardener? (Please be as detailed as possible) Years of gardening experience:
Detail type(s) of gardening experiences, any related formal training and/or your personal gardening interests. Which areas of Master Gardener training are most interesting to you? (turf maintenance, landscape design, pollination biology, ecology, native plant/animal interactions, gardening for pollinators, vegetable or community gardens, etc..) Do you have experience teaching adults? Yes No Do you have experience teaching children? Yes No There are many reasons why individuals want to be part of the Master Gardener Program. Becoming a Certified Master Gardener is important to me because: (Check all that apply) I will have an opportunity to receive useful training I will have an opportunity to share my knowledge with other gardeners I will gain practical experience that will help me get a job I will be able to provide a service to other people in my community and/or neighborhood I can get a tax credit for my volunteer work I will receive instructional materials and resources I will be able to increase my knowledge in the area of gardening/horticulture I will gain a great deal of personal satisfaction I will be recognized by people in my community I will be able to creatively use my free time I will be able to gain new skills Other (describe)
Volunteering with Broward County is subject to satisfactory completion of a background check, including, but not limited to, verification of education, previous employment, criminal records, and driving records history as recorded in the personnel or other records of any previous employer, law enforcement organization, state or federal agencies, or any school that you have attended. Further, a volunteer will be required to enter into a waiver, release and such indemnity agreement releasing Broward County from any liability whatsoever in connection with such background check verification, use of the results in the volunteer screening process, and from any liability to third persons caused by the direct or indirect actions of the volunteer. I wish to become a Broward County Master Gardener. I understand the applications will be screened to select the best candidates to assist with consumer horticulture education. If accepted, I agree to volunteer a minimum of 75 hours of service to the Broward County Extension Office Master Gardener Program by September 30, 2015 of which 40 hours will be at a Master Gardener Service Center. I agree not to use the Certified Master Gardener designation to promote a commercial venture. I understand continuing education and additional volunteer hours are required to maintain my certification from year to year. I consent to have my name, address, phone number, and email address included in the Master Gardeners Florida Volunteer Management System. I understand that a fee of $475 is required for initial training materials and security deposit and agree to pay the fee prior to the beginning of classes. I also understand that upon the completion of the 75 service hours I will receive a new name tag, Master Gardener Certificate and the $200 security fee. I understand that if I do not qualify to volunteer for Broward County I will not be allowed to take the course. Applicant Signature Date