Carroll-Lee-Whiteside Master Gardener Application

Fill out the requested information to apply for the Illinois Master Gardener Training at the Whiteside County Extension Office (12923 Lawrence Road, Sterling, IL 61081) from 9am-12pm, June 12-August 28. Training will be held at the Whiteside County office and will include occasional offsite visits. More information to come as the schedule is finalized.

What is a Master Gardener? The University of Illinois Master Gardener program is an educational volunteer training program. The program is open to any adult willing to learn about horticulture and share that research based information with others. To become a Master Gardener, participants must be accepted into the program, complete the training and agree to volunteer at least 40 hours within 2 years to the local U of I Extension office. Training covers various home horticulture topics including: Basic Botany, Flower Gardening, Insects, Integrated Pest Management, Plant Diseases, Small Fruits, Soils and Fertilizer, Tree and Shrub Care, and Turfgrass Care.

Volunteer Opportunities Include: staffing plant clinics or farmers markets, speaking to local organizations, establishing community gardens, conducting programs for youth, answering phone and email questions about gardening, writing newspaper articles, and more.

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Contact Information

First Name

Last Name

Street Address

Street Address 2

City

State

ZIP

Daytime Phone

Evening Phone

E-mail Address

I would like to apply for the Master Gardener Program beginning June 12, 2026.

Yes ($225.00)

Discount code

I am available to attend in-person trainings on Friday mornings from 9am-12pm from June 12 through August 28. There will be no class on June 19th, in observance of Juneteenth, or on July 3 in observance of 4th of July. Applicants should be able to attend the majority of scheduled sessions. Any sessions missed, will need to be made up.

Yes

If accepted into this program, I agree to complete a volunteer application, background check screenings, and other documents required to become a screened Master Gardener Volunteer.

Yes

I am taking this class for personal enrichment and do not plan on volunteering my time.

If accepted into this program, I agree to complete 40 local hours of Master Gardener related volunteer service within 2 years. The program facilitator can assist you in finding volunteer opportunities that match your interests and availability.

Yes

No, I do not plan on volunteering my time.

Are you a teacher interested in ISBE continuing education credits?

Yes

Civil Rights Compliance - Participant Info

As part of our commitment to providing equal opportunities in our programming, University of Illinois Extension is required to collect and report overall statistics about the race, ethnicity, and gender of program participants. Your responses are voluntary and appreciated.

Gender

Ethnicity

Race

Total Registration Cost $