Penn State Master Gardeners will hold a training session, beginning Oct. 2, for anyone interested in becoming member of the Master Gardeners.

Master Gardeners are volunteers trained through Penn State Extension who assist in providing and expanding educational programs in consumer horticulture. Trainees join fellow Master Gardeners to staff its garden hotline and help with one or more programs where hands-on sessions or talks are held for youth, adults, or seniors.The 2012 Master Gardener training course is scheduled for Tuesdays, from 1 to 4 p.m., Oct. 2 to Jan. 29 excluding three holiday weeks in Carbon, Monroe or Pike counties.Applicants will be scheduled for a pre-test and interview as part of the selection process. If accepted into the program, there is a fee to cover the Master Gardener manual, training expenses, and other program expenses.Penn State programs are open to all, and scholarship assistance may be available in cases of financial or other hardship.For an application, contact Penn State Extension: Carbon County Extension at (570) 325-2788 or

CarbonExt@psu.edu; Monroe County Extension at (570) 421-6430 or

MonroeExt@psu.edu; or Pike County Extension at (570) 296-3400 or

PikeExt@psu.edu.The application deadline is Friday, Sept. 7.