Ready, Set, Grow! (RSG) is a 4-H school enrichment project for 4th grade students to teach them the importance of plants to people and the environment in fun and imaginative ways. Teams of two trained Master Gardeners present two (2) hours of instruction with several hands-on and interactive activities and students get the opportunity to plant their own seeds to take home. This project is available to interested 4th grade classrooms in Fairfax County Public and private Schools, 4-H and home school groups at no charge, but is limited based upon the number of volunteers available.
The kick-off for the Ready, Set, Grow! project season begins in late November to early December. An informational letter and registration form is forwarded by the FCPS Science Coordinator from our county Extension Agents to fourth grade lead teachers while the RSG chair sends an email to all private schools, 4-H and home school groups on the contact list. (To add your school or group to the contact list please send an email to readysetgrow@fairfaxmastergardeners.org.)
The registration period lasts about two weeks, from the date the email is sent out until mid-December. In late-January to early-February email notifications are sent out by the Ready, Set, Grow! project chair to all of the teachers that registered confirming or regretting their participation for the season. Class presentations by the volunteer Master Gardener teams are conducted on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in February and March plus Wednesdays in April.
Master Gardeners
Recruiting volunteers from the Green Spring and Fairfax programs interested in participating in the RSG project is done throughout the year but particularly during the months of November, December and January. Informational orientation meetings are scheduled by the RSG leadership team in early January, during which participating volunteer’s partner with other volunteers to form teams of two people. The sign-up period to claim classes and meetings to organize materials provided for the presentations occur in mid-January. In late January and early February training classes are scheduled and materials for claimed classes are distributed. It is mandatory that all new volunteers to the RSG project attend one orientation meeting and all participating RSG Master Gardener volunteers attend one training class.
Impact on our Community
Each year approximately 40 Fairfax and Green Spring Master Gardeners teach basic plant anatomy and life processes in approximately 90 classes, throughout 30 schools to over 2,000 students in our county.
If you would like additional information about participating in or volunteering for this project or have other questions, please contact the Ready, Set, Grow! project chair at readysetgrow@fairfaxmastergardeners.org.