Advanced Training

Interested in specializing your Master Gardener volunteer work?

Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners currently have three options for advanced study: Land Care Steward, Tree Steward, and Water Quality Steward.  Training for each steward program is available annually on a rotating basis at Master Gardener College in Blacksburg, VA.  For large groups interested in a steward program, the training may arranged to take place locally.

The Advanced Master Gardener identifies resources for the program, recruits and organizes volunteers to assist, administers the program activities, and reports impacts to the agent.  Advanced Master Gardeners work with their Agent and the community to develop a cohesive program that meets community needs and then implement the program.

After completion of training, Advanced EMGs should complete at least 5 hours of relevant continuing education and 10 hours of advanced training specific volunteer hours on an annual basis, in addition to the hours requirements to maintain their status as an Extension Master Gardener volunteer.

outline of the Commonwealth of Virginia with an illustrated tree overlaid

Tree Stewards

In Virginia, advanced Master Gardener tree steward training is offered by the local Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program. Once the training is completed, volunteers become certified advanced EMG tree stewards and commit to a specific number of volunteer hours working on local tree steward projects. EMG tree stewards work on projects based on the needs of their local community as determined mutually between the local agent/coordinator and active tree stewards.

View the Tree Steward Manual here.

Water Stewards

Advanced Master Gardener Water Stewards receive the benefit of a high level of training which is both technical and programmatic in nature. The advanced technical training provides in-depth water quality, conservation and management knowledge. The programmatic training enables the Advanced Master Gardeners to truly extend the reach of Extension because it is meant to prepare the EMG to research community water needs, then to design, implement and evaluate a program meant to meet those needs.

Shape of Commonwealth of the Virginia filled with illustration of a landscape with blue sky

Land Stewards

The Advanced Master Gardener identifies resources for the program, recruits and organizes volunteers to assist, administers the program activities, and reports impacts to the agent.  Advanced Master Gardeners work with their Agent and the community to develop a cohesive program that meets community needs and then implement the program.