Mississippi 4-H Junior Master Gardener Program
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Information for Prospective Volunteer Leaders
Do you want to implement
a program that improves life skills?
If so, read on.
What is the program?
The 4-H Junior Master Gardenerssm Program (JMGsm) is a national youth gardening curriculum for young people, beginning in third grade. The program provides these learning opportunities:
- Develops leadership, teamwork, and other important life skills.
- Enhances academic achievement.
- Promotes volunteerism and community service.
- Provides environmental and agricultural education.
Who offers this program?
The Mississippi State University Extension Service administers the program through 4-H. Community groups also provide support for the program.
How does the program meet its objectives?
Students participate in hands-on activities and projects that are featured in the Youth Handbook and the Teacher/Leader Guide, which include these chapters:
- Plant Growth and Development
- Soils and Water
- Ecology and Environmental Horticulture
- Insects and Diseases
- Landscape Horticulture
- Fruits and Nuts
- Vegetables and Herbs
- Life Skills and Career Exploration
When does the program meet?
4-H Junior Master Gardenerssm can meet either during or after school.
Where does the program meet?
The program can meet in schools, in homes, at after-school child-care facilities, in churches, in community clubs, or in county Extension offices.
Why does 4-H promote the Junior Master Gardenersm Program?
Many of today’s youth live in an increasingly urbanized, technological society far removed from the simpler, agrarian lifestyles of past generations. Through learn-by-doing activities involving plants and gardening, children can increase their knowledge of the importance of agriculture and the environment.
Texas A&M University research indicates the following:
- Gardening as a group activity can be used as a socialization tool to learn leadership and volunteerism.
- Students who participated in this program developed responsibility in caring for living things.
- Youth in this program increased compassion for people.
The Mississippi 4-H JMGsm Program provides a tremendous opportunity for the state’s youth to do the following:
- Enrich and expand their minds through agriculture-based learning activities.
- Broaden their horizons by building character and knowledge.
- Relate to their agrarian roots through “get your hands dirty” activities.
The program has enormous potential to make a positive impact on the following:
- Environmental awareness
- Nutritional habits
- Horticultural knowledge
- Leadership skills
- Volunteerism
- Community involvement
For more information
on how your contribution can support the Mississippi 4-H JMGsm
Program,
contact your county Extension office at ____________________________ .
Other contacts:
Lelia Scott Kelly,
Ph.D.
4-H JMGsm Coordinator
Area Horticulturist
(662) 566-2201
leliak@ext.msstate.edu
Sonja Skelly, Ph.D.
Master Gardener Coordinator
Consumer Horticulture Specialist
(662) 325-2311
skelly@pss.msstate.edu
By Lelia Scott Kelly, Ph.D., Area Horticulturist, Northeast District, and Sonja Skelly, Ph.D., Consumer Horticulture Specialist, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.
Junior Master Gardener, JMG, Golden Ray Series, and their associated logos are service marks of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service.
Information Sheet
1596
Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress,
May 8 and June 30, 1914. Ronald A. Brown, Director
(500-06-01)
Copyright 2001 by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved.
This document may be copied and distributed for nonprofit educational purposes provided that credit is given to the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
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Last Modified: Thursday, 21-Nov-02 10:40:00
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