Horticulture Program - Department of Correction

Volunteer Opportunity Details:

Last updated on April 5, 2013

The Horticulture Program at South Middlesex Correctional Center is embarking on a new adventure and is seeking citizen volunteers to join the effort. The instructor will be using the Massachusetts Horticulture Certification Study Manual as a reference and a guide to prepare interested offenders for the certification exam given two times a year.

South Middlesex Correctional Center (SMCC) is a two hundred bed facility for minimum status and prerelease female inmates within the Department of Correction. It is located 22 miles from Boston in the City of Framingham.

The exam consists of two parts: (1) IDENTIFICATION. Students must be able to identify 30 varieties of trees, shrubs, and perennials and give the full Latin and common names of each plant. The 30 samples are taken at random from a list of 365 native plants listed in the study guide. Students must be able to spell the Genus, the Species and the common name of the given plant correctly in order to pass this portion of the examination. (2) 300 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS. In the study guide, 13 chapters include the required information need to pass the certification. These chapters cover several facets in the field, such as anatomy, turf, insect identification and more.

Classes meet on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9AM-10:45AM and from 12:30PM-2PM with a total of 15-20 students. SMCC is interested to secure volunteers to assist the students with the challenging information. Ideally, 2-3 volunteers for small groups, once or twice a week for several hours would be beneficial to the students. The women are eager to learn and have adaptable schedules to meet with interested volunteers.

Volunteers are required to attend an orientation-certification program

This opportunity is sponsored by: Department Of Correction

This volunteer opportunity is available to the following types of volunteers Older Adults Individual Adults (26-54) We need volunteers who are free at these times Weekdays Frequency Available Weekly This volunteer opportunity addresses the following social interests Adult Education & Job Skills Development Education & Literacy Arts & Culture Community Development

Contact Person: Bill Milhomme, Director Of Volunteer Services, (phone), (email) View all organization contacts

Address:

50 Milford Street Milford, MA 01757 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.mass.gov/doc

Last updated on April 5, 2013

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Volunteering in the prisons has been inspiring and has deepened my spiritual llife enormously.

The Alternatives to Violence Project workshops provide experiential community building and skills in communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution. In facilitating these workshops for the last 15 years, I have profoundly experienced the power of individuals to overcome years of isolation, distrust and fear to build a community based on respect and caring. I now direct a small non-profit dedicated to bringing volunteers into the prisons and to being a voice for prisoners outside the wall. posted by Natural Nancy on October 17, 2008