Six classrooms at Highland Elementary School in Salem and Kennedy Elementary School in Keizer received free plant-science and nutrition lessons during fall 2025 through OSU Extension's 4-H Junior Master Gardener program.

OSU 4-H educator Alix Brant and Marion County Master Gardener volunteers led the six-week series, which combined hands-on lessons about plant needs and plant parts with a fruit or vegetable tasting at every session. Two of the six classrooms were dual-language. All materials were provided at no cost to schools or families, according to an OSU Extension impact report.

The program launched in direct response to a request from the Marion County Board of Commissioners for hands-on learning in schools, OSU Extension reported Aug. 18.

The extension service said the partnership aims to expand access for students from low-income communities and multilingual learners.

Marion County's Junior Master Gardener program, which started in 2016, also offers summer day camps for youth ages 8 to 12. No dates for the next school cycle have been announced.