Only three openings are available in the Heritage Junior Master Gardeners program in Friendswood.. Open slots are rare for this state award winning gardening program for kids.
The program meets at the Heritage Gardeners’ clubhouse on Spreading Oaks in Friendswood. Participants receive Junior Master Gardener certificates upon completion. The Heritage JMG Kids are part of the JMG international youth gardening program of the university cooperative Extension network.
Age recommended to participate is first grade and up and an adult must accompany them at meetings and activities.
In 1961, when organizing the Heritage Gardeners Garden club, the gardeners also established Heritage Youth Gardeners with the belief that children are our future gardeners. The club has been active all these years. These garden club members taught the children garden-related activities, but it became apparent that there needed to be a more in-depth curriculum.
In 2001, Kaye Corey, Master Gardener, and member of the Friendswood Heritage Garden Club, was introduced to the Jr. Master Gardener program fashioned after the adult Master Garden program. The children’s Heritage Youth Gardener members were named Heritage Jr Master Gardeners, Heritage JMG Kids.
Heritage JMG Kids is jointly sponsored by Friendswood Heritage Gardeners, who provide a space to meet, a garden to maintain, activities to participate in and an annual budget. Galveston County Master Gardeners provide the program and Master Gardener leadership. MG Kaye Corey is the leader of Heritage JMG Kids, assisted by Heritage Gardener, Paula Matranga.
The program is unique and unlike other JMG programs in that participation is open to all children in Friendswood as well as nearby towns and parents participate in all meetings and activities with their children This level of family involvement extends the education to the entire family.
The JMG Kids meet once a month on the second Wednesday at 4 pm and enjoy refreshments. The Kids present their homework assignments and participate in teacher-lead instruction, as well as other group activities. The Kids maintain their personal container gardens, their pollinator garden, and their habitat pond. Field trips are regular events for their entire families. In this new year for the program, the Kids will garden in the bed at the Historical Perry Home across the street from the garden club.
The annual lemonade and craft booth at the Heritage Gardeners Spring Garden tour teaches the group teamwork and public relations. Volunteerism is part of the program. They maintain a flowerbed in Stevenson Park and help in the park’s Pollinator Garden.
Membership averages about five years with the older Kids helping the younger children.
Certification by Texas A&M AgriLife as Jr Master Gardeners represents approximately three years of creative and fun studies in horticultural and environmental science education. Of the 100+ children enrolled in our JMG program over the years, most have earned their certifications as Texas Jr. Master Gardeners.
In June 2023, Heritage Jr. Master Gardeners were presented the Texas 3rd Place Jr. Master Gardener program award by the President of the Texas Master Gardener Association. They are honored for Beautifying Friendswood by planting Bluebonnets and their flower bed at Stevenson Park.
If your child/children or grandchildren are interested in becoming part of JMGs, please contact Kaye Corey at 713 302 1371 to receive a returned call.#
