The Green Thumb Challenge aims to generate excitement for the joys and healthy benefits of gardening in schools and youth groups nationwide. Some impassioned participants may discover that they want to study gardening concepts in greater depth. The Junior Master Gardener Association, an international youth gardening program of the University Extension network, offers a certification program for these future gardening experts.
The JMG program is a 4-H project modeled after the popular Master Gardener program. The JMG curriculum comprises standards-based lessons, and covers diverse sets of gardening-related topics. The JMG Program offers youth the opportunity to get certification within the program. One of the easiest ways for youth to get started is to work toward the JMG Golden Ray Series Certification. Youth can receive Golden Ray Series certification by completing 12 activities in any of the eight chapters of the Level One Core Curriculum and/or from any of the Golden Ray Series curriculum including Health and Nutrition from the Garden, Wildlife Gardener, or Literature from the Garden. In addition, youth will complete a career exploration activity, and finally use their garden to serve their community through a youth initiated service learning project. Take a look at the JMG curricula and begin planning your gardening adventure!
JMG Core Curricula Level 1 
JMG Level 1 Core Curricula - Teacher/Leader Guide and Youth Handbook
Ever suck a bug or make mud pies to evaluate soil texture? The JMG teacher/leader guide provides teachers with the tools to teach the world of gardening with eight chapters of novel, "hands-on" activities for elementary children. The core curricula contains a teacher/leader guide and a companion youth handbook. Resources available in both English and Spanish.
Health and Nutrition from the Garden - Teacher/Leader Guide
In this first unit of the Golden Ray Series, children are motivated to eat the fruits of their labor in their study of Health and Nutrition from the Garden. This imaginative curriculum teaches children that growing and eating nutritious fruits and vegetables reaps its own rewards.
Literature in the Garden (teacher/leader guide)
Cultivate a connection to children's literature gardening with this award-winning curriculum. You'll be engaging children through powerful garden and ecology-themed children's books to inspire learning through outdoor activities, creative expression and open exploration. Dozens of hands-on math, science and laguage-based activities encourage leadership development, individual responsibility, community involvement, and the development of critical thinking skills.
Wildlife Gardener (teacher/leader guide)
The combined resources of the National Wildlife Federation and the Junior Master
Gardener Program along with the valuable input from pilot teachers and students
across the country have helped to shape Wildlife Gardener into an integrated,
engaging, and one-of-a-kind experience for kids.
Green Thumb Challenge participants interested in registering as a JMG group can follow these simple steps:
1. Be sure that you have signed up for the Green Thumb Challenge.
2. Download, complete and return the JMG registration packet - there is no cost to register! The JMG Association will send your group's personalized JMG Registered Group Certificate within two weeks.
To register with the Junior Master Gardener Program: Complete the JMG registration packet and mail or fax to:
National Junior Master Gardener Program
Group Registration
225 Horticulture/Forestry Bldg.
2134 Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-2134
Phone: 979-845-8565/Fax: 979-845-8906
3. Join the Junior Master Gardeners Group on the GEF Online Community, and be connected to JMG groups nationwide! Track your progress, post photos and share videos as you help the nation reach its goal of 10,000 gardens in 2010.
In addition to certification eligibility, registered groups will receive free monthly newsletters, and be eligible for state and national contests and recognition. To learn more about the JMG Program, visit the Junior Master Gardeners Association website.
Fostering the new generation of environmental stewards.
