Penn State Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Policy Statement

I. Program Mission:

The mission of the Penn State Extension Master Gardener volunteer program is to support Penn State Extension by utilizing research-based information to educate the public on best practices in consumer horticulture and environmental stewardship.

II. Program Overview:

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners are volunteers who support Penn State Extension's educational programs in consumer horticulture. They develop their horticultural expertise through participation in educational programs conducted by the Pennsylvania State University faculty and Extension staff. Faculty, Extension professionals, and Extension educators also provide diagnostic support for horticultural issues and questions to Master Gardener volunteers actively participating in the program. Extension publications, teaching materials, and other program support materials are provided as deemed appropriate by the Extension professionals and county Master Gardener Coordinators. Information presented by Master Gardeners must be consistent with Penn State Extension recommendations concerning various aspects of consumer horticulture.

III. Qualifications:

1. Strong interest in both horticulture and community service.
2. Willingness and availability to undertake extensive training in horticulture.
3. Dedication and willingness to perform the required hours of volunteer service and continuing education for Penn State Extension.
4. Knowledge in horticulture as evidenced by scoring a minimum of 80% on a mid-term and final exam administered by Penn State Extension.
5. Ability to communicate effectively, diplomatically, and professionally with others by telephone, personal contact, group contact, email, and in writing.
6. Willingness to support Penn State Extension staff in providing Extension audiences with unbiased, research-based consumer horticulture information.
7. Must be at least 18 years old to apply.
8. Expected to train and serve as a Master Gardener in the county in which you live; exceptions are rare and must be approved by the statewide Master Gardener leadership team.

IV. Standards of Behavior for Master Gardener Volunteers:

1. Respect and adhere to the policies and guidelines of the Penn State Extension Master Gardener program at both state and county levels.
2. Be accountable to supervising Master Gardener Coordinator by obtaining pre-approval for all volunteer activities.
3. Promote and support Penn State Extension in developing effective county, state, and national programs.
4. Work cooperatively with Penn State Extension staff and volunteers.
5. Act and dress in a professional, positive, respectful, and ethical manner.
6. Encourage participation of and respect for individuals of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.
7. Participate in required training programs.
8. Must receive regular program communications via email and HandsOn Connect Volunteer Portal. Accommodations are available upon request with approval of supervising Master Gardener Coordinator.
9. Perform the required number of volunteer and continuing education hours for Penn State Extension.
10. Accept volunteer assignments and changes made by supervising Master Gardener Coordinator and committee chairs.
11. Maintain a volunteer activity log and continuing education log and record them into the data management system, HandsOn Connect Volunteer Portal, regularly. Enter all volunteer and continuing education hours by September 30 of each year. Attend meetings as deemed necessary by supervising Master Gardener Coordinator to obtain information about continuing education opportunities, learn about horticultural issues, and assist in coordinating Master Gardener activities.
12. Provide own transportation.

V. Basic Training:

County Master Gardener programs offer a minimum of fifty (50) hours of training. Each trainee is expected to attend all classes, with any missed sessions to be made up at the discretion of the supervising Master Gardener Coordinator. Attendance at classes offered in addition to the required hours is determined at the county level; the supervising Master Gardener Coordinator may substitute locally relevant topics for any additional classes.

Classes (topics required in all counties):

Introduction Master Gardener Program: Background

Ch 1. Teaching and Communications

Ch 2. Basic Botany

Ch 3. Plant Propagation

Ch 4. Soil Health and Fertilizer Management

Ch 5. Composting

Ch 6. Controlling Pests Safely

Ch 7. Basics of Entomology

Ch 8. Plant Diseases

Ch 9. Indoor Plants

Ch 10. The Vegetable Garden

Ch 11. Lawn Care

Ch 12. Pruning Ornamental Plants

Ch 13. Tree Fruit

Ch 14. Small Fruit

Ch 15. Landscape Design Ch

Ch 16. Woody Ornamentals

Ch 17. Herbaceous Plants

Ch 18. Native Plants

Ch 19. Weeds

Ch 20. Invasive Species

Plant Diagnostics

Additional Classes (topics may vary by county):

Ch 21. Garden Wildlife

Ch 22. Gardening Equipment

Sustainable gardening concepts and practices are included as an integrated component throughout basic training. Weekly quizzes are available to ensure trainees keep up with class topics.

VI. Initial Certification:

To obtain certification as a Penn State Extension Master Gardener, each trainee must complete the following requirements within one (1) year, starting on October 1 of the current year and ending on September 30 of the next year. (Example: A trainee who starts Basic Training in Fall 2025 would have from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 to complete the requirements below.)

1. Attend all Basic Training classes, with any missed sessions to be made up at the discretion of the supervising Master Gardener Coordinator.
2. For volunteers starting in October 2024 or later: Take Penn State University's Reporting Suspected Child Abuse (RSCA) Training and provide certificate of completion to the supervising coordinator. (Volunteers who took the training prior to 2024 are only required to take the RSCA training on an as-needed basis to participate in select activities as determined by Penn State staff.) See Section XIV for further details.
3. Pass the mid-term and final examination administered on-site or online with a minimum score of 80% on each. Both exams are closed book.
4. Complete any county-required activity (e.g., post-training presentations, office orientation, additional training workshops, etc.).
5. Fulfill the 50-hour volunteer service commitment and record volunteer hours online using the data management system, HandsOn Connect Volunteer Portal. Trainees may begin to volunteer as soon as training classes begin with supervision from a certified Master Gardener.
6. Exceptions to the requirements may be granted on a case-by-case basis or in extenuating circumstances. These exceptions are considered at the discretion of the supervising Master Gardener Coordinator.

Upon successful completion, the trainee is awarded a Penn State Extension Master Gardener certificate. Master Gardener certification is restrictive in that it is valid only while the individual is participating in the Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program. Certification in subsequent years is issued only to an individual who commits to participation in the program for the coming year, as outlined below. When an individual ceases active participation in the program, his or her designation as a Penn State Extension Master Gardener becomes void. An individual not continuing in the program should be aware that continued representation as a Penn State Extension Master Gardener is a violation of the original commitment made to Penn State Extension.

VII. Certification in Subsequent Years:

To maintain certification for participation in the program in subsequent years, a Penn State Extension Master Gardener must recertify annually by following these guidelines:

1. Commit to a minimum of twenty (20) hours of volunteer service to be completed each year; see Volunteer Activities and Guidelines for Volunteer Participation (Sections X and XI) below.
2. Complete ten (10) hours of approved continuing education (CE) each year; see Guidelines. At least five (5) of the ten (10) required CE hours must be Extension- affiliated programming.
3. Hours beyond the minimum annual volunteer service and CE requirement may not be carried over to the following year.
4. Exceptions to the annual recertification requirements may be granted on a case-by-case basis or in the event of extenuating These exceptions are considered at the discretion of the supervising Master Gardener Coordinator.

VIII. Guidelines for Continuing Education (CE):

1. The continuing education training must be pre-approved as acceptable by the supervising Master Gardener Coordinator.
2. Select horticultural topics that prepare you to teach the public.
3. At least five (5) of the ten (10) hours must be Extension-affiliated. Examples of continuing Education: basic Master Gardener training; advanced Master Gardener training; state, regional, and international Master Gardener conferences; approved relevant university and/or community college courses; arboretum and/or botanical garden seminars and conferences; educational videos, podcasts, or webinars; approved Extension-sponsored seminars and conferences; Pennsylvania Federation of Garden Club courses; and book club discussion sessions (one hour per book—reading time does not count toward CE).
4. Unacceptable CE would include subjects such as food preservation and cooking, forestry management, etc. Please check with your County Coordinator.
5. Only actual instructional hours may be counted toward the annual CE requirement. Travel, lunch, or break times are not included in calculating continuing education hours.

IX. Guidelines for Volunteer Participation:

A. General Guidelines

• Attendance at meetings is strongly encouraged and counts as volunteer service time.
• Volunteer service for outside organizations that satisfy the requirements for participation or membership in those organizations may not be counted as Penn State Extension Master Gardener volunteer activity unless you are there to represent Penn State Extension Master Gardeners.
• Master Gardener participation in non-Extension sponsored programs/activities/events without prior approval from the supervising Master Gardener Coordinator may not count as volunteer service time.
• Travel time to and from approved Master Gardener volunteer activities counts toward volunteer service hours.
• Volunteers should wear the official Penn State Extension Master Gardener name badge while volunteering for Penn State Extension.

B. Use of Title & Endorsements

The title "Penn State Extension Master Gardener" is reserved for individuals trained and certified by Penn State Extension and is valid only for volunteer service in approved program activities. It must not be used for personal or business advertising, or in promotional materials, either physical or online. Also, any commercial activity or endorsement of products is prohibited. Volunteers may list the title, training, and volunteer experience on social media sites such as LinkedIn or in personal biographies as an educational qualification and volunteer experience.

C. Educational Recommendations

• When making recommendations, which include the use of fertilizers and pesticides, a Penn State Extension Master Gardener must follow current Extension recommendations.
• Horticultural problems not specifically covered by Extension recommendations should be referred to an Extension educator or Extension Specialist. Questions concerning commercial production of crops and pest control on such crops must be referred to a commercial Extension educator or Extension specialist.
• Written materials (news releases and articles, newsletters, fact sheets) prepared by a Penn State Extension Master Gardener must be reviewed and approved by supervising Extension staff prior to release or publication.
• Master Gardeners must not provide recommendations on topics outside their training. This includes, but is not limited to, food safety, pet safety, food preservation and cooking, medicinal plants and herbs, identification or consumption of foraged plants or mushrooms, If there is any uncertainty, please consult your county coordinator.
• Master Gardeners are allowed to mention toxicity characteristics of a plant when presenting or making recommendations to the public, using the North Carolina Plant Toolbox database as a reference.

X. MG Acceptable Volunteer Activities:

Below is a list of the general activities that can qualify for volunteer time. For insurance and University compliance purposes, all volunteer work and activities must be approved in advance by the county coordinator. Even if an activity is listed below, a Master Gardener must obtain approval from their supervising coordinator before any work is done on a project. All approved activities must have an educational purpose and/or teaching component.

1. Answer consumer/home gardeners' telephone, email, and social media inquiries; assist Extension office visitors with plant and insect samples for identification or diagnosis; and give general pesticide recommendations (Garden Hotline).
2. Assist with Extension educational programming, such as Poison Prevention programs, talks for local organizations, Extension-sponsored workshops, exhibits, displays, etc.
3. Write research-based gardening and horticultural information for fact sheets, newsletters, newspapers, magazines, websites, blogs, press releases, Content must be reviewed and approved by Extension staff prior to publication.
4. Serve as an administrator and content creator for Facebook, Instagram, or X (Twitter). TikTok is not a university-approved social media platform.
5. Provide advice, recommendations, and guidance for establishing educational gardens, including rain, school, pollinator, sensory, and edible teaching gardens.
6. Maintain Penn State Extension Master Gardener county educational demonstration gardens and/or state-approved projects and gardens, including The Arboretum at Penn State, Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, and Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SEAREC).
7. Develop or assist with community-based environmental stewardship projects.
8. Assist teachers, 4-H volunteers and youth, and/or children with gardening education projects. Additional policies apply for working with youth – please see Section XV.
9. Conduct/teach horticultural-related clinics, pruning, or other demonstrations at Extension offices, local libraries, farmers markets, government centers, fairs, expos, garden clubs, civic groups, community events, flower shows, etc.
10. Serve as neighborhood "plant expert" in own community by answering home gardening questions, diagnosing plant problems, and/or instructing neighbors on proper lawn, landscape, garden, or houseplant care.
11. Teach Master Gardener training sessions.
12. Operate personally owned tractors in service of approved Extension projects. Master Gardeners may not operate University-owned vehicles.
13. Operate tillers, mowers, shredders, or chippers; use other equipment such as hand pruners, loppers, hand saws, shovels, hoes, trowels, and sharp knives while doing MG activity.
14. Demonstrate safe use of sprayers (water-based demonstration only) and power garden equipment, including tillers, mowers, shredders, chippers, and personally owned tractors.
15. Serve on municipal street tree/shade tree committee as a representative of Penn State Extension Master Gardeners by providing educational information.
16. Create or prepare visuals/graphics, such as posters, flyers, program announcements, and tabletop displays for horticultural programs and/or publications.
17. Host, produce, or appear as a guest on radio/TV and/or use station's radio/TV equipment.
18. Photograph Extension and Master Gardener events.
19. Solicit donations and/or sponsorships to benefit the Master Gardener program.
20. Haul materials such as wood, pallets, soil, mulch, and plants in their own vehicle for Extension projects.
21. Assist with community composting projects, such as building compost bins for use in educational demonstrations.
22. Build bird/bat boxes, raised beds/gardens for Extension projects, or teach others how to build them.
23. Assist with therapeutic horticulture programs for people with disabilities.
24. Teach 4-H school enrichment for plant science only; teach plant science at 4-H camp; serve as 4-H judging team coach for plant science only; provide programs related to horticulture for 4-H leaders.
25. Judge horticultural projects for 4-H, school or fair projects, community fairs, flower shows, etc.
26. Organize plant swaps and plant sales for the Master Gardener program.
27. Organize and/or lead educational bus trips/tours and garden tours related to horticulture.
28. Host tours of their personal garden for educational purposes.
29. Assist with planting and maintaining variety trials at experimental farms or trial sites.
30. Assist with data collection, testing, and evaluating new varieties of vegetables, fruits, turf, ornamentals, and/or flowers for approved research projects.
31. Assist with or organize horticultural files and program materials in Extension office.
32. Lead Master Gardener activities in the county under the direction and supervision of county coordinator.
33. Serve on Extension Council.
34. Serve on state/regional/national Master Gardener committee(s) under the direction of the county coordinator.
35. Hold fundraisers approved by supervising Extension staff, with bake sales being acceptable, except for home-preserved or canned foods. Additional restrictions apply to personally prepared, perishable foods.
36. Grow or harvest crops from demo gardens for distribution to food bank/soup kitchen.
37. Plan and facilitate a Master Gardener book club (time reading does not count, see Section VIII).
38. Conduct other activities as determined by local needs and the prior approval of supervising Extension staff.
39. Working with community gardens is acceptable in the role of educator or consultant on the design, construction, etc., but it is NOT acceptable for a Master Gardener to be involved in the planting and maintenance of a community garden without an educational component.

XI. MG Non-Acceptable Volunteer Activities:

The following activities are NOT ACCEPTABLE for Master Gardener volunteer service:

1. Teach or make recommendations that are anecdotal or "home" remedies, i.e., not research-based or Penn State Extension-approved.
2. Perform pesticide application on public property, including using Round-up, Preen, or other home remedies. This is against Pennsylvania law and applies to all chemicals used as a pesticide. Volunteers with a commercial pesticide license are not authorized to use pesticides on behalf of Penn State Extension.
3. Develop or deliver training for any green industry professionals including garden center employees, nursery employees, grounds managers, tree trimmers, and arborists.
4. Design non-educational gardens/landscapes for schools or communities.
5. Planting and/or maintaining gardens for schools, civic groups, community gardens, public gardens/arboreta, municipal parks, state/national parks, except for Penn State Extension Master Gardener educational demonstration gardens and/or state-approved projects as noted above under acceptable activities.
6. Serve as the operator or manager of a community garden, i.e., accept applications, collect rental fees, order supplies for the garden, cut the grass in the common areas, etc.
7. Organize a community garden club.
8. Establish and manage a farmer's market.
9. Clean up litter along the highway, at parks, or on playgrounds.
10. Personal recycling of cans, bottles, newspapers, plastic nursery pots, etc.
11. Serve 4-H as a judge or chaperone for activities not related to horticulture.
12. Serve as a 4-H leader, on Friends of 4-H committee, or 4-H Curriculum Development committee.
13. Operate chainsaws while participating in Master Gardener activity.
14. Operate University-owned tractors, riding mowers, gators, motorized carts,
15. Teach or make recommendations for the medicinal, personal care, or cosmetic use of any plants, including Any teaching, recommendations, or advice about essential oils is also prohibited.
16. Teach or make recommendations about the identification and consumption of foraged plants and mushrooms.
17. Teach food preservation, cooking, or canning.
18. Teach or offer recommendations regarding plants that are safe or harmful to pets. Master Gardeners are allowed to mention toxicity characteristics of a plant when presenting or making recommendations to the public, using the North Carolina Plant Toolbox database as a reference.
19. Teach on topics that would normally align with other Extension teams, such as Master Watershed Stewards.
20. Offer programming with religious or biblical references.
21. Make home visits to diagnose pest problems or provide gardening advice.
22. Use personal trail cameras/passive recordings in demonstration gardens.
23. Any illegal activity.

All activities must be approved by the county Master Gardener Coordinator.

XII. Master Gardener Status:

A. Titles Used in the Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program

1. Master Gardener Trainee: A volunteer who is currently taking the Basic Training classes.
2. Master Gardener Apprentice: A volunteer who has completed the Basic Training classes and exams and is working to complete their initial 50 hours of volunteer service.
3. Certified Master Gardener: A volunteer who has completed their initial certification and is maintaining their certification each year.
4. Master Gardener, Leave of Absence: See guidelines below.
5. Master Gardener Emeritus: A volunteer who was granted this title upon retirement from the Master Gardener program. This title is awarded after nomination by the supervising Master Gardener Coordinator and granted by the State Master Gardener Program. To be nominated for Emeritus status, the volunteer must have served with distinction and retired with 1,500 volunteer hours and ten or more years of exemplary service. In addition:
   • Emeritus members are exempt from the annual service, education, and attendance requirements.
   • They are entitled to attend monthly meetings, scheduled events, and tours.
   • They may not vote, serve on committees (including Program Advisory Committee), hold elected offices, or provide volunteer service.
   • They will not be covered by liability insurance.
   • They do not need Reporting Suspected Child Abuse (RSCA) Training and may not obtain child clearances through the Master Gardener program.
   • An Emeritus member cannot be returned to active status.
   • Emeritus status may be bestowed posthumously.

B. Leave of Absence Status Guidelines

1. A Leave of Absence status may be requested by a Master Gardener who is unable to commit to twenty (20) hours of volunteer service plus ten (10) hours of continuing education at present but would like the opportunity to recertify in the future.
2. The request must be made in writing on the Leave of Absence Status Request Form to the county Master Gardener Coordinator or supervising Extension staff.
3. Approval is at the discretion of the Master Gardener Coordinator.
4. A Master Gardener requesting Leave of Absence status must be in good standing, having completed the original commitment of training, exam, and volunteer service, and having maintained certification in subsequent years up to the time of requesting inactive status.
5. A Master Gardener volunteer in good standing may take a Leave of Absence for up to five (5) years.
6. The Master Gardener volunteer must complete the following requirements before returning to active status:
   • Watch the most recent Basic Training Orientation Session (live or recorded)
   • For each year of absence, complete a minimum of three Continuing Education (CE) credits must be obtained through the Extension diagnostic webinar series or the most recent Basic Training lecture recordings.
7. An individual on leave of absence for more than five (5) years is required to retake the basic Master Gardener training. A tuition fee may be assessed to cover the basic training costs.

C. County Transfer & Phipps Conservatory Transfers

A certified Penn State Extension Master Gardener trainee is required to complete training within the county where they initially enroll. Transfers to another county are not permitted during the training year or until the certification is completed.

However, if a trainee relocates to a different county, they may transfer their training to the new county of residence.

XIII. Financial and Liability Information:

A. Fees

Upon an individual's acceptance into the Master Gardener program, a one-time fee is paid to the local county Master Gardener program. Extension programs are open to all regardless of their ability to pay. Provisions will be made to reduce or waive fees in cases where an individual is unable to pay.

B. Liability Insurance

Penn State Extension Master Gardener volunteers are insured under the P.W. Wood & Son, Inc. general liability (not accident) insurance policy. Coverage applies only to individual volunteers while performing volunteer activities for Penn State Extension. The coverage does not extend to other organizations or groups with which a Master Gardener volunteer is working. A volunteer must not sign contracts or leases assuming liability responsibility on behalf of other organizations or groups. All contracts or "Facilities Use" agreements that require a signature must be submitted to the county coordinator for review by the Wood office prior to signing. Contract submissions must follow approved protocols and appropriate paperwork as outlined in Penn State Extension policy.

Each year, county Extension offices are asked to identify the number of volunteers to be covered, and the appropriate premium charge is applied. P.W. Wood does not request volunteer names, as they understand that volunteers are not static and move in and out of active status throughout the policy year.

C. Speaking Engagements

All speaking engagements must be pre-approved by the Master Gardener Coordinator. When a Penn State Extension Master Gardener speaks before a group on a horticultural topic, it is permissible for him or her to accept reimbursement for travel expenses from the host organization. However, a Master Gardener is not allowed to seek paid personal speaking engagements while participating in an approved Extension function and while using the Penn State Extension Master Gardener title. Any funds or speaker fees should be submitted to the county office.

XIV. Reporting Suspected Child Abuse Training:

Penn State is committed to building a safe community for children at all our campus and program locations. We all play an extremely important role in the protection and welfare of children. Even if you don't plan to volunteer with youth activities, Penn State Extension is a family-friendly environment, and children are often present at our offices and events. As a result, all Master Gardener volunteers must be familiar with our procedures for reporting suspected child abuse.

To meet this need, starting in October 2024, Penn State requires all incoming volunteers to take the University's custom Reporting Suspected Child Abuse (RSCA) training. Penn State offers RSCA training through its internal Learning Resource Network (LRN). The LRN is a separate system from the HandsOn Connect Volunteer Portal and other Extension sites, and it requires each volunteer to create a unique account. After completing the training, volunteers must provide a copy of their certificate to their supervising Master Gardener coordinator. County coordinators will work with their incoming trainees to provide the most up-to-date information on how to take the training.

Master Gardener volunteers only need to take this training once upon entering the program, UNLESS they plan to volunteer with youth activities. Additional clearances and training renewals may be required, depending on the activity; further details are provided in Section XV below.

XV. Clearances for Work with Youth and Other At-Risk Populations:

The Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program follows University policies HR99, AD39, and AD72 for its youth protection guidelines. Based on these policies, as well as guidance from the Penn State College of Agriculture's HR Unit, the Master Gardener program utilizes four levels to classify volunteer work with youth and the necessary clearances for each level.

Please note: University policy and procedure regarding youth protection may be updated on a different schedule from this policy statement. For the most current requirements on youth clearances, volunteers should check with their supervising Master Gardener Coordinator.

Youth Protection Levels and Requirements

Level 1: If the Volunteer has Direct Volunteer Contact with youth –

• Definition:
  • The care, supervision, guidance or control of children AND routine interaction with children
  • Also included in the Level 1 category are those volunteers (or employees) who are the lead coordinator of a youth-serving event or activity (in full or in part)
• Examples:
  • A Master Gardener who is responsible for children in an Extension-sponsored gardening/nature camp
  • A Master Gardener who regularly teaches gardening lessons in a classroom
  • Any instance in which a volunteer is "responsible for" a child at any given time (i.e., parents, guardians or teachers are NOT responsible for the children)
• Requirements:
  • Three publicly available background checks required prior to volunteering
  • If break in volunteer service greater than 6 months, the volunteer must complete a self-disclosure form
  • Complete the online Reporting Child Abuse Training prior to volunteering and annually thereafter
  • Coordinators must ensure youth-serving events or activities are registered in the Ethics and Compliance Youth Program Inventory

Level 2: If the Volunteer Interacts with youth on a field trip or assist with a youth- serving activity –

• Definition:
  • Volunteers who help with a youth-focused booth or activity at a public event (however no responsibility for children)
  • This level also includes those speaking to youth groups (schools, scouts, camps, etc.) that visit Penn State campuses or other properties (a.k.a. field trips)
• Examples:
  • A Master Gardener who works at a Farm Show booth that is specifically geared toward children (e.g., Pest Ed booth, PA Apple Grower's youth booth)
  • A Master Gardener who volunteers at the Pest Ed youth-focused booth at Ag Progress Days
  • A Master Gardener who assists with children who are participating in a youth event at a demonstration garden.
• Requirements:
  • No background check is required
  • Complete self-disclosure form
  • Complete the online Reporting Suspected Child Abuse Training prior to volunteering and annually thereafter 

Level 3: If the Volunteer Interacts with youth at public events with no youth-serving activities.

• Definition:
  • Public events or situations in which children are being 100% chaperoned by a parent or teacher at all times. The volunteer would never be responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or control of a child. This is also not a field trip scenario.

• Examples:
  • A Master Gardener who offers advice on garden pests at a local community event
  • A Master Gardener presenting Poison Prevention Program (Mr. Yuk), unless the school specifically requires background checks.
  • A Master Gardener who speaks at the local community club in which the public is invited. Children may be present; however, they are there attending with their parents
• Requirements:
  • No background check is required
  • Complete self-disclosure form and RSCA Training once upon entering the Penn State Extension Master Gardener program (annual renewals not required)

Level 4: If the Volunteer has NO Contact with youth –

• Definition: Sole interaction with adults; no interaction with minors under age 18
• Examples:
  • A volunteer who speaks at events where no children are present
  • 4-H advisory committee members who have no interaction with youth
  • A Master Gardener volunteer who solely communicates with the public via phone or email, e.g., answering questions about planting guidelines, diagnosing diseases, etc.
• Requirements:
  • No background check is required
  • Complete self-disclosure form and RSCA Training once upon entering the Penn State Extension Master Gardener program (annual renewals not required)