Master Gardener Volunteers

Visit the WI Master Gardener Program, Division of Extension at https://wimastergardener.org/

Glacial Gardeners Scholarship Opportunities for 2026

The Glacial Gardeners are once again offering Scholarship opportunites to area high school and current college students as a steppingstone on their journey to higher education. One of their missions has been to reach out to the youth in our communities and kindle a passion for Natural Resources and all things green. To do this, they will award up to three $1,000 scholarship(s). If you are pursuing a 2 or 4 year degree in any of these areas:

  • Agriculture and Applied Economics
  • Agriculture Education
  • Agronomy (Soil management and crop production)
  • Botany (physiology, structure, genetics, ecology, distribution, classification & economic importance of plants)
  • Entomology
  • Environmental Sciences & Engineering
  • Forestry
  • Horticulture
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Plant Pathology
  • Soil Science
  • Wildlife Ecology

Click on this link Glacial Gardeners Scholarship Application – 2026 for the application and requirements.

Please note that the essay will be used as the deciding factor on who will be awarded the scholarship(s). They will also review all the required letters and the acceptance letter from the college they plan on attending.

Deadline: Completed application must be submitted by June 13, 2026.

For more information, send an email to glacial.gardeners@gmail.com.


GLACIAL GARDENERS

The Glacial Gardeners was started by the graduates of the first training program offered by Florence County UW-Extension in 1997. Current membership includes 21 gardeners from Florenceglacial G and Marinette Counties of Wisconsin, and Dickinson, Iron & Menominee Counties of Michigan.

A wide variety of volunteer opportunities and projects are available to members:

Monthly meeting and programs are held on the second Monday of the month in the lower-level conference room of the Florence Natural Resource Center at 5:00 PM.  Master Gardeners from other states or those with lapsed certification are welcome.   Annual membership dues are $15 per person. For more information on how to join the Glacial Gardeners, contact via email at glacial.gardeners@gmail.com or stop into the Extension Florence County office located at 5628 Forestry Drive, Florence, WI 54121.

Left to right:  Glacial Gardeners Officers: Sharon Chick, Vice President – Nancy Hill, President – Mary Bibby, Secretary/Treasurer

Master Gardener Volunteer Training Marinette, Oconto and Florence Counties

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The Master Gardener program is all about building your gardening skills and providing opportunities for volunteering in the local community.  As a member of the class you will learn how to find answers to gardening questions through the use of research-based material from the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension.  On completion of the classroom sessions (36 hours), there will then be 24 hours of volunteer time put in at one or more of the approved projects in the area.  For information on the Wisconsin Master Gardener program, go visit the state website Wisconsin State Master Gardener Program

For more information about the Master Gardener Training or the local association (Glacial Gardeners Master Gardener Association), e-mail Office Manager Jane Lindow (jane.lindow@wisc.edu).

Topics covered in Master Gardener Training include:

  • Plant Biology & Morphology
  • Soils & Soil Health
  • Woody Landscape Plants
  • Fruit Crops
  • Composting
  • Herbs
  • Lawn Care Flower-garden_opt
  • Plant Propagation
  • Backyard Wildlife
  • Perennials and Annuals
  • Vegetables
  • Using Native Plants
  • Weed Management & Invasive Plants
  • Entomology
  • Plant Diseases

To complete an annual re-certification, 24 hours of volunteer time is needed plus 10 hours of continuing horticulture education.

The possibilities for volunteering are limited only by your own ideas and time.  Whether you like working most with people or with plants, there are activities that you can do to fulfill the volunteer hours requirement.