Registration

2025 North Suburban Cook County Master Gardeners - Request a Youth Program

University of Illinois Extension provides presenters to engage students in hands-on learning experiences. If you want to request a program for your organization, please complete this form indicating your program preferences and preferred dates. All groups requesting programs should have a minimum audience of 15 people.

Due to the high volume of requests for our programming, requests should be made at least 10 weeks in advance in order to coordinate our staff and volunteers' schedules.

We may limit each organization to two programs per calendar year to better accommodate groups.
*** PLEASE NOTE April dates are very popular and book out months in advance. Please consider a non-April date!

For in-person programs, if your organization can, we request a cost recovery fee of $50 for each program to cover educational materials for hands-on activities, handouts, and travel expenses. We are willing to work with you based on your available funding. If your organization includes the word "donation" on the memo line of the check, we are able to receive partial matching funds. We greatly appreciate your support and will provide a W-9 and tax-exempt letter if requested.
Payments may be mailed to the attention of Julianne Czubek at U of I Extension, 2800 S River Road, Suite 240, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018. Thank you.

** Please note: Extension Staff and volunteers cannot sign any contracts, agreements, or waivers. Programs are not delivered at private residences. Recording of programs is prohibited. All publicity or promotional materials should give credit to the University of Illinois Extension. **

Program Types and Descriptions:

(This registration is for North Suburban locations ONLY. )

Tabling programs are best suited for events where participants can walk up to the table for a short period of time to learn and ask questions. Tabling programs can be for both youth and adult audiences.

Monarch Butterflies (youth) - Learn about our State Insect's life stages, habitats, journeys, and the challenges facing their populations.
Planting Lettuce or Herbs in a Bag (youth) - Join us to learn about planting basics, seed germination, soil nutrients, plant structure, plant care, and discuss the importance of the four primary plant growth factors. Individuals are invited to make their own mini-greenhouse using a plastic sandwich bag and potting soil to grow herb or lettuce seeds indoors. Keep the plants growing on a sunny windowsill until they are ready to harvest.
Pollinators and Seed Ball Activity (youth, not available in winter) - Youth will learn about specific plant species and how they support pollinators. Participants then combine seed ball matrix with pollinator plant seeds to plant outside!
Worm Composting (youth) - Worm composting is a fun way to make fertilizer from food scraps! It is excellent for small spaces and kids love it. It is easy to do, but takes a little more effort than basic composting.

If you have any questions or need a reasonable accommodation to participate, contact Amanda Anderson, the Master Gardener Program Coordinator in North Suburban Cook County. Email: amandaea@illinois.edu and Phone: 224.347.1095. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your needs. University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. United States Department of Agriculture. Local Extension Councils Cooperating. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

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Contact Information

First Name

Last Name

Street Address

Street Address 2

City

State

ZIP

Daytime Phone

Evening Phone

E-mail Address

Name of Organization

Please provide a second contact person and best phone number to reach them in case primary contact cannot be reached, should an unforeseen development occur regarding the presentation.

Program Date Requested

Is this date flexible? If yes, please give alternative dates.

What time will the presentation begin?

How long would you like the program to last?

Location of the presentation, including the address. Please include any special directions such as which door to enter, which side of building, parking, etc.

Is this event going to be indoors or outdoors? If outdoors, organization should provide a tent or shaded area.

Indoor

Outdoor

Can your organization provide a table, chairs or tent if outdoors for MG volunteers? Please select all that is available.

Chairs

Table

Tent

What are the ages/grades levels of the youth?

Estimated attendance:

Please rank your program choices. Descriptions of available programs are below.

Has this group used Master Gardener presenters in the past?

Yes

If yes, when?

How did you hear about Cook North Suburban Master Gardener Youth Programs?

Questions, comments or other concerns

Donations defray the cost associated with providing you with the program. We wish to serve all audiences and understand if you cannot make a donation. If you can make a donation, make checks payable to University of Illinois Extension. Please add in the notation: Donation.

I understand that all publicity or promotional materials should give credit to University of Illinois Extension.

Yes, I understand that all publicity or promotional materials should give credit to University of Illinois Extension.

I understand that Extension staff and volunteers cannot sign any contracts.

Yes, I understand Extension staff and volunteers cannot sign contracts

I understand that University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener programs are proprietary intellectual property. Individuals and organizations may not photograph, reproduce, publish and post images of program materials. Also, any presentations delivered in person or online via Zoom, etc. must not be recorded.

Yes, I understand that University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener programs are proprietary intellectual property. Individuals and organizations may not photograph, reproduce, publish and post images of program materials. Also, any presentations delivered in person or online via Zoom, etc. must not be recorded.

I understand that in making this program request that if a cancellation is needed by the requestor, requestor will email Amanda Anderson, amandaea@illinois.edu at least 24 hours prior to the activities agreed upon start time.

Yes, I understand that in making this program request that if a cancellation is needed by the requestor, requestor will email Amanda Anderson, amandaea@illinois.edu at least 24 hours prior to the activities agreed upon start time.

Civil Rights Compliance - Participant Info

As part of our commitment to providing equal opportunities in our programming, University of Illinois Extension is required to collect and report overall statistics about the race, ethnicity, and gender of program participants. Your responses are voluntary and appreciated.

Gender

Ethnicity

Race