UConn Extension Master Gardener 2026 Applications due October 17
UCONN EXTENSION OPENS APPLICATIONS FOR 2026 MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM
UConn Extension is now accepting applications for the 2026 Master Gardener Program, a dynamic educational outreach initiative that blends horticultural science with community engagement. Applications are due by Friday, October 17, 2025, and must be submitted to the location where applicants wish to take classes.
The Litchfield County cohort offers a hybrid option, allowing participants to complete the classroom portion either in-person or online. All other program components, including office hours, outreach, and diagnostic sessions, must be completed in person. Accepted applicants will be notified by Monday, November 3, 2025, and must register and submit the $495.00 program fee by Friday, December 5, 2025. Classes begin the week of January 11, 2026.
The program includes:
- 100+ hours of classroom instruction (January–May 2026)
- Weekly online sessions from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Subject quizzes, a graded exam, and a plant ID/research project due by August 2026
- Attendance at one of five in-person summer diagnostic sessions
- Final diagnostic exam and essay due by September 2026
- 30 hours of in-office service at a UConn Extension Center or Bartlett Arboretum
- 30 hours of approved educational outreach or community projects
All program requirements must be completed by September 2026. Graduates earn certification as UConn Master Gardeners and become registered volunteers with UConn Extension. Visit mastergardener.uconn.edu for full details and application materials.