BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSION
NEWS RELEASE
Parks and Recreation Division ▪ 950 N.W. 38th St., Oakland Park, FL 33309
Phone: 954-357-8100 ▪ Fax: 954-561-5359 ▪ www.broward.org/parks
For Immediate Release
Date: November 6, 2009 Phone: 954-357-8115
From: Michael Mills E-mail: mmills@broward.org
Broward County Extension 4-H Helps Preserve the Environment
The Broward County Board of County Commissioners has established eight goals toward a high standard of living for residents of the county. Goal 8 - "Preserve the environment as a globally competitive value and promote benchmark improvements to our stakeholders" - is the framework under which the Broward County 4-H Junior Master Gardener (JMG) program uses research-based information to build leadership, citizenship, and life skills in young people ages 5 to 17 through hands-on environmental education. This two-year program develops awareness, knowledge, and appreciation for the natural environment among youth, and also develops their ability to recognize community needs and meet those needs through service. In 2009, Broward County JMG was named a Program of Excellence, as well as one of the top-five 4-H programs in Florida, by the Florida Association of Extension 4-H Agents.
Since the program began in Broward in 2003, the 4-H Junior Master Gardener program has collaborated with the Broward County Extension Urban Horticulture program and Master Gardener volunteers, the Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS), and the Old Davie School Historical Museum. The garden at MODS, for instance, continues to be open to thousands of annual patrons. The success of the program was evident when the museum's expansion committee requested that 4-H volunteers and members assist with implementation of the new garden. The program's evaluation continued to show success when the number of groups grew from two to four, with enrollment going from 20 youths and 10 adults to its current enrollment of 76 youths and 34 adults.
During the 2008-2009 4-H year, 4-H and partner-organization volunteers spent 9, 268 hours serving the JMG program. At the current rate of $20.25 per volunteer hour, this equates to $187,677 in cost savings to the county in terms of staff. Recent JMG graduates have continued their work and 4-H citizenship by partnering with the Broward Trust for Historic Preservation to plan and install new landscaping around the historic 1916 Annie Beck House in Middle River Terrace Park, and advising MODS in the installation of its new wildlife garden (part of the museum's expansion program), to be completed sometime in 2011. In addition, a new JMG class began in September 2009 and was filled to capacity.
For more information on the Junior Master Gardener program, visit www.broward.org/extension/4hprograms or contact Broward County 4-H at 954-370-3725 or 4-H@broward.org.
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Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations in order to participate in County programs, services, and activities must contact the Special Populations Section at 954-357-8170 or TTY 954-537-2844 at least ten (10) business days prior to the scheduled meeting or event to request an accommodation.
