The VMGA at Work in the Community: Junior Master Gardeners
One of the largest volunteer-based projects that the Victoria Master Gardeners supports in the community is the Junior Master Gardeners (JMG) which is run out of the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific (HCP).
The Junior Master Gardener program is an international youth gardening education program. The mandate is to create and provide learning opportunities for children and youth in our community aged 5-12 years old. The program utilizes hands-on group and individual learning experiences to nurture a love of gardening. The heart of the program is the HCP Kids Teaching Garden, which along with the surrounding gardens and forests serves as a living classroom and educational tool. This environment is used to cultivate joy, wonder and meaningful connections to plants, food systems, and the natural world.
Since its inception in 2005, over 1000 young gardeners have benefited from the HCP JMG program with the execution of over 117 camps. Master Gardener Paula McCormick is the lead coordinator for the program, and she recruits and manages over 150 volunteers to ensure the camps are staffed with knowledgeable instructors.
Currently, the JMG program offers summer camps, as well as camps on professional development days, and during spring break. Activities include seed starting, transplanting, weeding, seed collection and seasonal garden maintenance. Time spent in the garden also provides opportunities to observe and learn about sustainability in the garden, as well as foster an appreciation for creatures who support our gardens such as wildlife, decomposers, and pollinators.
For more information on the JMG program at HCP, please visit: https://hcp.ca/youth-programs-hcp-kids/school-age-camps/