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For more information on training sites near you and to receive an application, please contact the Extension office serving your county listed below.
Every Illinois county offers training and accepts new volunteer applications at various times of year based on local staffing and program needs.
If available, the information on a county's next Master Gardener training offering is included below. Click on your county's name to visit their local website page for the most up-to-date information.
Please note you are required to apply to volunteer in the county that you live in. Please do not contact a county you do not reside within.
Training Opportunities in your Area
Northwest Region
- JoDaviess, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties
- Boone, DeKalb and Ogle Counties
- Offering online training in winter, summer, and fall every year. Applications taken at any time.
- Carroll, Lee and Whiteside Counties
- Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Stark Counties
- Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam Counties
- Offering online training winter, summer, and fall every year. Applications taken at any time. Hybrid training tentatively scheduled for Fall 2026.
Northeast Region
- Lake and McHenry Counties
- Lake: The next hybrid training will take place January-April 2026. Applications open summer 2025.
- McHenry: Offering online training in Winter only, applications due by the end of September.
- DuPage, Kane and Kendall Counties
- Offering training every other year. They anticipate the next hybrid session will be held in fall of 2025. Interested gardeners are welcome to take the online course and apply to become a MG after completing the course.
- Cook County:
- Cook County is currently in the process of training and accepting its newest cohort of volunteers, and the deadline for this cycle has passed. Please mark your calendar! They plan to open the application process for new volunteers again in Summer 2027. You can check their website linked above for updates and add your name to our interest list in Spring 2026.
- Grundy, Kankakee and Will Counties
- Will County and Grundy County offers Online Master Gardener training three times per year—Winter, Summer and Fall. You can apply year-round at this link: https://go.illinois.edu/newWillGrundymg.
- Kankakee County offers Hybrid Master Gardener training in Winter and Fall. Reach out to the Kankakee office for additional details.
West Central Region
- Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike and Schuyler Counties
- Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan and Scott Counties
- Hybrid Master Gardener Training will be offered in Winter/Spring 2026
- Hybrid training is offered every other year. Email horticulture educator Ken Johnson at kjohnso@illinois.edu to be added to an interest list.
- Christian, Jersey, Macoupin and Montgomery Counties
- Fulton, Mason, Peoria and Tazewell Counties
- Henderson, Knox, McDonough and Warren Counties
- Logan, Menard and Sangamon Counties
- Offering hybrid training in Winter 2026
East Central Region
- Champaign, Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion Counties
- Clay, Effingham, Fayette and Jasper Counties
- Clark, Crawford and Edgar Counties
- Offering online training in winter, summer, and fall every year. Applications taken at any time
- Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie and Shelby Counties
- Offering online training in Summer and Fall. Applications taken at any time.
- DeWitt, Macon and Piatt Counties
- There are 6 training options for DeWitt, Macon and Piatt in 2026:
- Online training offered in summer and fall.
- Hybrid training offered in Winter/Spring 2026 at Piatt County Extension Office (Monticello) at Decatur Public Library (Decatur)
- Hybrid training offered in Fall 2026 in both Macon and Dewitt locations TBD
- There are 6 training options for DeWitt, Macon and Piatt in 2026:
- Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties
- Online training offered in winter, summer, and fall. Applications are taken at any time.
- Hybrid Master Gardener Training will be offered in McLean County in Fall 2026. Applications open in May 2026.
Southern Region
- Alexander, Johnson, Massac, Pulaski and Union Counties
- Offering online training in summer and fall. Applications taken at any time.
- Hybrid training offered in fall 2026 at the Johnson County Extension Office (Vienna). Contact Anne Townsend at cupquake@illinois.edu if interested.
- Bond, Clinton, Jefferson, Marion and Washington Counties
- Offering online training in winter, summer, and fall every year. Applications taken at any time
- Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash and Wayne Counties
- Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Randolph and Williamson Counties
- Offering online training in winter, summer, and fall every year. Applications taken at any time.
- Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Pope, Saline and White Counties
- Offering online training in winter, summer, and fall every year. Applications taken at any time
- Madison, Monroe and St. Clair Counties
- Online training offered in winter, summer, and fall every year.
- Hybrid training offered in Fall 2027.
- Email Sarah Ruth at ruth1@illinois.edu for application details.
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