2025 New Volunteer Training: Amador/Calaveras Counties

Who Can Apply

• Priority give to residents of Amador and Calaveras Counties. (Tuolumne County residents may also opt to attend the in-person activities in Jackson.)
• Applicants must be available to attend the online and in-person classes listed to the right. 
• Applicants must be comfortable using a computer and accessing the internet. Quizzes and homework are online; class communication is via email.

How to Apply

• Attend the live informational meeting or watch the recording to learn more about the volunteer requirements as well as the selection and training process. Attendance or viewing of the information meeting is a mandatory pre-requisite to apply.  Two live Q&A sessions are available to address any questions you have about the new volunteer program. 
  
  
  • Watch the Training Information Meeting Recording
  • Friday, October 25, 2024: 12:00 Noon—1:00 pm
    Q&A session, please watch the recorded training information meeting prior to meeting
  • Thursday, November 14, 2024: 6:30 – 7:30 pm
    Q&A session, please watch the recorded training information meeting prior to meeting

These three sessions use the same registration link: https://ucanr.edu/2025-mfp-training-mtg. 

• Complete and submit the online application by the end of Monday, November 25, 2024. Interviews will be during the early weeks of December.

What We’ll Do

• Review applicants. Main criteria for acceptance: 1) prior community service, 2) experience teaching, either by giving presentations, writing, or in one-on-one situations, 3) experience/interest in home food preservation.
• Request a DOJ Clearance, including fingerprinting. (If you are already a volunteer with UC ANR through the Master Gardener or 4-H program, you do not need to be fingerprinted.)
• Teach you how to preserve food successfully using scientifically researched home processes.
• Teach you how to educate our community about safe home food preservation.
• Provide you with plenty of fun volunteer and continuing education opportunities.

What You’ll Do If Accepted

• Pay the $200 course fee by December 15, 2024.
• Attend the 11 classes in the track you select (Thursday evenings or Friday afternoons), as well as the in-person labs. Only one class may be missed and must be completed outside of normal class time with a mentor.
• Complete the Live Scan fingerprinting process by February 14, 2025. Forms are sent with the acceptance notification.
• Attend at least one public class hosted by a UC Master Food Preserver Program; either in person or online by May 9, 2025 as part of your training program.
• Attend monthly online Master Food Preserver business meetings on the first Tuesdays at 1:30 as often as possible.
• Complete 50 volunteer hours your first year, then 25 volunteer and 12 continuing education hours each year thereafter.
• Pass the annual reappointment quiz.
• Have fun!