Master Gardener Volunteer Training Course

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County (CCE Oswego) offers periodic Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) Training generally scheduled for a late winter start. The class is held primarily online using Cornell’s Garden-based Learning Library to give students greater flexibility with their personal schedules. Students work through seven modules and participate in two group sessions each month. One session is held virtually through Zoom, usually on Wednesdays, and the other is an in-person meeting on Saturday mornings. During each session, students review key knowledge, participate in class discussions, and listen to guest presenters on various topics.

The MGV training covers many aspects of horticulture and is open to anyone with a passion for gardening and a willingness to volunteer. After receiving your application, we will contact you to schedule a time to do a short interview as part of the selection process. Training usually starts in late January/early February and finishes with a final project presentation in the middle of June. To remain an active MGV, volunteers must contribute a minimum of 50 hours of service annually.

For more details on the volunteer position and a sample schedule, please see the side bar. In addition to interviews and reference checks, we are required to check the motor vehicle record and criminal background for all volunteer positions. If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer, please complete the Volunteer Application and return it to Joshua Vrooman, Agriculture Community Educator for CCE Oswego, at jwv33@cornell.edu.

Current Fee

$275, which includes access to course materials and a garden manual.

Last updated March 3, 2026