A UC Master Gardener volunteer is anyone 18 years of age or older who, on an unpaid basis, agrees to provide a service or conduct an activity that supports the goals of the UC Master Gardener Program. UC Master Gardener volunteers are recruited, screened, oriented, trained, and annually appointed as part of the UC Master Gardener Program, to support the program's mission.
Volunteer Selection Resources
A comprehensive Volunteer Selection BOX Toolkit is available as a one-stop resource for conducting and managing the statewide evaluation survey. Find all volunteer selection forms, templates and supporting resources in one convenient location. The Volunteer Selection Toolkit includes:
- Volunteer position descriptions (English & Spanish)
- Volunteer applications (English & Spanish)
- Interview guides and sample questions
- Inclusive volunteer selection strategies
- Staff instructions and supporting materials
Open the Volunteer Selection Toolkit in BOX
Staff resource: Access may require you to sign in with your UC ANR credentials.
Always use the versions available in Box.
Resources are updated periodically. Bookmark the toolkit rather than downloading and storing permanent local copies.1. Socialize the volunteer role
Socialize the volunteer role
In the volunteer identification process, organizations employ intentional and mass recruitment strategies to get the word out about volunteer opportunities. If prospective volunteers are interested in applying, they will want to review the Volunteer Position Description to understand more about the volunteer work, about role requirements, and about whether their skills and interests are a match for community and program needs.
Distribute and collect applications
UC recruitment and selection activities for new UC Master Gardener Program volunteers must be designed to ensure that a diverse group of adults in the local community become aware of the UC Master Gardener Program and its opportunities. All adults interested in participating as Master Gardener volunteers in the UC Master Gardener Program must complete one of the UC Master Gardener Program Application statewide forms available below.
- UC Master Gardener Program Application Form (Word, Accessible PDF | English & Spanish)
Note: This document is typically housed in Appendix 2 of the UC Master Gardener Program Policy Handbook. However, the document currently housed in Appendix 2 is out of date. Until updates can be made, use the link provided above. Do not download and reupload this document locally. - SAMPLE UC Master Gardener Program Application Form (Qualtrics | English)— Do not distribute
- SAMPLE UC Master Gardener Program Application Form (Qualtrics | Spanish) — Do not distribute
- Note: Please do not use these SAMPLE forms. Contact Marisa Coyne, Assistant Director for Volunteer and Community Engagement at macoyne@ucanr.edu to request a copy for your county. UC ANR personnel may register for a UC ANR-sponsored Qualtrics account using the information on the UC ANR CE Program Evaluation page.
- UC Master Gardener Program Application Form (Word, Accessible PDF | English & Spanish)
Screen applicants
Volunteer screening practices vary from county to county. Some counties will make selections following review of applications while others host online or in-person interviews. Regardless of how counties approach selection, all staff and volunteers involved in the selection of new volunteers are required to take implicit bias training to ensure that opportunities are broadly available to all Californians.
- Implicit bias training resources are available on the Equity resources webpage
- An optional UC Master Gardener Program Volunteer Screening Interview Guide is available in the Volunteer Selection Toolkit in BOX
- Inclusive Volunteer Selection: Strategies for UC Master Gardener Program Personnel assembles applied strategies from across the state and is available in the Volunteer Selection Toolkit in BOX
Connect with us
The Volunteer and Community Engagement Team is ready to support you. Contact us to schedule a one-on-one meeting.
Marisa Coyne
Assistant Director, Volunteer and Community Engagement
macoyne@ucanr.edu
Katherine Uhde
Regional Operations Specialist, Region 1
kuhde@ucanr.edu
Kristian Salgado
Regional Operations Specialist, Region 2
kmsalgado@ucanr.edu