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Youth Gardening Guidelines: Working with Virginia Cooperative Extension Volunteers

This guide provides comprehensive guidelines for Master Gardener volunteers working with youth in partnership with the Virginia Cooperative Extension. The program covers Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Community Viability areas to promote youth development and horticultural skills. With a focus on experiential education, the 4-H program offers diverse learning opportunities for boys and girls aged 5-18. The mission of 4-H is to foster self-directed, contributing members of society. The objectives include increasing awareness of horticulture and landscaping, developing leadership skills, and promoting collaboration with VCE. The enrollment policy requires youth to complete 6 or more hours of VCE programming to be enrolled in 4-H, leading to reporting accountability and safety measures outlined within the guidelines. Addressing ethical responsibilities, the policy highlights a zero-tolerance approach to abuse or neglect suspicions. This document serves as a fundamental resource for volunteers engaging in youth gardening activities, emphasizing safe and educational interactions.

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Youth Gardening Guidelines: Working with Virginia Cooperative Extension Volunteers

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  1. Working with Youth Guidelines for Master Gardener Volunteers

  2. Virginia Cooperative Extension is organized around four main program areas: • Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) • 4-H • Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) • Community Viability (CV)

  3. EXTENSION 4-H Youth FCS Families ANR Horticulture Youth Gardening E2 Mattey’s Garden Therapeutic Gardening Food to Table Community Garden Plant , garden, harvest, canning CDR

  4. What is 4-H? • Youth development program of VCE • An experiential education program for boys and girls ages 5-18, which stresses learning by doing • Diversity in curriculum, delivery modes, and participants • 6 or more hours of learning within a year

  5. The 4-H Mission “The mission of 4-H is to assist youth, and adults working with those youth, to gain additional knowledge, life skills, and attitudes that will further their development as self-directing, contributing, and productive members of society.”

  6. Youth Gardening Objective: to increase awareness and understanding of the value of horticulture and landscaping to young people; to gain the knowledge and skills needed to conduct horticultural based activities in such a fashion as to meet the goals of the individuals and professionals ( i.e. SOL for teachers); and, to use horticulture as a tool to increase leadership and responsibility for youth. NOTE: This objective should be addressed while working in COOPERATION with the VCE 4-H

  7. 4-H Enrollment Policy • Youth completing 6 or more hours of VCE educational programming (including programs conducted by MGs such as E2, Mattey’s Garden and Therapeutic Gardening) are always enrolled in 4-H. • For shorter term programs (such as Seeds of Learning), 4-H enrollment for the youth, is not required. • Individual, Group, or Group Summary (numbers only) may be most appropriate, depending on situation.

  8. Reporting to 4-H • Extension “counts” youth programming by Master Gardeners twice: • In local Master Gardener program • In local 4-H program • 4-H reporting is easy: • enrollment forms to 4-H agent • 4-H agent aware of project • number of hours is not required by 4-H

  9. “Above Suspicion” Policy • When working with a group of children, at least two adults should be present at all times. • Never allow yourself to be alone (one-on-one) with someone else’s child. • Anticipate scenarios to avoid problems.

  10. Other Youth Policies • 4-H does not work with youth below the age of 5. Volunteers working with youth under age 5 should ask their supervisor to verify that they have liability coverage for this work. • All Extension youth programs should use approved, age-appropriate curriculum. • Volunteers should set a good example for youth at all times – in language and actions. • Use of alcohol or drugs during Extension activities is prohibited (for volunteers and participants). • No physical or emotional disciplinary measures may be used with youth in Extension programs.

  11. Suspicion of Abuse or Neglect • By law, anyone who works with children and suspects abuse or neglect has a legal responsibility to report it: 1-800-552-7096, or call Social Services in the county/city where the child lives or where the abuse/neglect occurred • Do not confront or accuse anyone. • Keep things confidential.

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