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.
- Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike and Schuyler Counties
- Alexander, Johnson, Massac, Pulaski and Union Counties
- The next hybrid training will be held weekly on Tuesdays from September 10 to December 3, 2024. This hybrid course includes 12 weeks of online materials combined with live sessions. The live sessions will take place on Tuesdays from 9am - noon at the Williamson County Extension Office. Applications will be accepted at any time.
- Bond, Clinton, Jefferson, Marion and Washington Counties
- Offering online training in Summer 2024.
- Boone, DeKalb and Ogle Counties
- Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam Counties
- Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan and Scott Counties
- Hybrid training offered every other year, with the next training in 2026. Email kjohnso@illinois.edu to be added to an interest list.
- Carroll, Lee and Whiteside Counties
- Champaign, Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion Counties
- Christian, Jersey, Macoupin and Montgomery Counties
- Clark, Crawford and Edgar Counties
- Offering online training in winter, summer, and fall every year. Applications taken at any time
- Clay, Effingham, Fayette and Jasper Counties
- Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie and Shelby Counties
- Offering online training in Winter and Summer. Applications taken at any time before registration deadline.
- Offering local hybrid training in Winter at the Mattoon Extension office. Applications taken in the fall each year before registration deadline.
- Cook County:
- Due to current staff vacancies, Cook County will not be accepting Master Gardener volunteers in 2024. Please join our interest list to be notified the next time we will open volunteer applications.
- Cook County- Chicago Botanic Garden
- 2024 applications are closed. Visit Chicago Botanic Garden's website for information on being added to the 2025 interest list.
- DeWitt, Macon and Piatt Counties
- There are 7 training options for DeWitt, Macon and Piatt in 2024:
- Online training offered in winter, summer and fall.
- Hybrid training offered in Winter/Spring 2024 at Piatt County Extension Office (Monticello) or at Macon County Extension Office (Decatur)
- Hybrid training offered in Fall 2024 In-person portion at Decatur Public Library (Decatur) or DeWitt County Extension Office (Clinton)
- There are 7 training options for DeWitt, Macon and Piatt in 2024:
- DuPage, Kane and Kendall Counties
- Offering training every other year. We 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.
- Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash and Wayne Counties
- Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Randolph and Williamson Counties
- The next hybrid training will be held weekly on Tuesdays from September 10 to December 3, 2024. This hybrid course includes 12 weeks of online materials combined with live sessions. The live sessions will take place on Tuesdays from 9am - noon at the Williamson County Extension Office. Applications will be accepted at any time.
- Fulton, Mason, Peoria and Tazewell Counties
- Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Pope, Saline and White Counties
- Offering online training in winter, summer, and fall every year. Applications taken at any time
- 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.
- Henderson, Knox, McDonough and Warren Counties
- Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Stark Counties
- JoDaviess, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties
- Lake and McHenry Counties
- Lake:
- McHenry: Offering online training in Winter only, applications due August 31, 2024.
- Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties
- Logan, Menard and Sangamon Counties
- Madison, Monroe and St. Clair Counties