Project Overview

Reports

Commodities

• Additional Plants: native plants

• Ecosystem: Ecosystem

• Pollinators: habitat, honey bees, other

Target Pests

Practices

• Crop Production: pollination/pollinator health/habitat

• Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity

While the general public is increasingly aware of the importance of pollinators, they are generally not well educated on threats pollinators face or what can be done to improve pollinator health and increase pollinator habitat. Pollinators are important for maintaining production of many food crops. Pollinators are negatively impacted by diseases, parasites, climate change, pesticide use, and loss of habitat. To expand resources for the protection of pollinators, the Pollinator Education and Action for Youth working group will 1) design youth educational experiences that lead to increased knowledge of pollinators and awareness of IPM, 2) provide resources to educators to implement these experiences, and 3) increase habitat for pollinators through these experiences.

Youth are contributing members of society that influence decision makers and create change themselves. Youth have a history as early adopters of new agricultural technologies and can influence the adults around them. Youth are the future decision makers, leaders, and workforce. Experiences youth have now can influence their decisions and may influence their career path.

This working group will convene educators and scientists from the North Central Region (Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Ohio) and Washington (Dave Hunter with Crown Bees) to develop cohesive youth educational programs about pollinators and pollinator protection. Educational programs developed by the working group will include 1) lessons that educate youth about the importance of pollinators, 2) lessons that educate youth about strategies for increasing pollinator habitat 3) lessons to educate youth about the role of IPM in protecting pollinators 4) activities for youth to consider the role of pollinators and pollinator habitat in their own community and 5) resources for youth and communities to take action that benefits pollinators.

Monarchs on the Move and the Native Bee Challenge will be used as model curricula currently available to meet this need. The working group will use these curricula and decide on additional resources to add. Monarchs on the Move and the Native Bee Challenge were developed by educators and researchers at Iowa State University to teach youth about the importance of pollinators and how to increase and protect pollinator habitat. The educational program design will encompass both in-person and remote delivery modes to fit the demands of the current educational climate.

Once the working group has developed a plan, school-based and informal educators will be recruited to participate. The working group will design and provide training and resources for educators in north central states through a series of online and in-person professional development opportunities. Supplies and resources to implement this plan will be purchased and provided to educators. Resources for educators include curriculum, supplies for implementing curriculum, and information on local programs that can be accessed for community projects related to pollinator habitat. Examples of local programs are school garden grants, projects that provide milkweed seed or plants, pollinator garden initiatives and collaboration with Master Gardeners. As educators implement this program it will lead to increased knowledge about pollinator protection and increased pollinator habitat in communities.

1. Design education experiences that increase general public knowledge about pollinators and practices that benefit pollinators and increase awareness of the benefits of Integrated Pest Management.
2. Provide resources to educators to implement the educational experiences including curricula, supplies, training, and information about local pollinator programs.
3. Increase habitat for pollinators and community knowledge about pollinators through implementation of youth educational experiences about pollinators.