Project Overview

Reports

Commodities

• Additional Plants: native plants

• Animals: bees

• Ecosystem: Ecosystem

• Fruits: apples, cherries

• Natural Areas: wildlife

• Pollinators: habitat, honey bees, other

• Vegetables: cucurbits, tomatoes

Target Pests

Practices

• Pest Management: biological control, habitat modification, pesticide application timing, precision pesticide use

• Crop Production: beekeeping/honey, pollination/pollinator health/habitat

• Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity, wildlife

• Production Systems: agroecosystems

• Sustainable Communities: public participation, sustainability measures, urban agriculture

Problem: While the public is increasingly aware of the importance of pollinators, most people are not educated about pollinator diversity, threats pollinators face, or the importance of habitat. Many are not aware of pollinators’ role in crop production. Without pollinators, agricultural systems, human livelihood, and landscapes would collapse. Education plays a vital role in pollinator conservation. There is an opportunity to teach educators and youth that pollinators are negatively impacted by diseases, parasites, climate change, pesticide use, and loss of habitat.

Our approach is training educators to lead evidence-based and immersive programming with youth to create a culture of pollinator conservation. Youth are contributing members of society who influence decision-makers and create change. Historically, 4-H youth have been early adopters of new agricultural technologies. Youth are future voters, community leaders, and will soon enter the workforce. Experiences youth have can influence their decisions and career path.

In Year 2, the Pollinator Education and Action for Youth working group created a K-12 curriculum to increase knowledge about the importance of pollinator conservation and awareness of IPM. Learning goals include: 1) Don’t be afraid of bees, 2) Importance of biodiversity, 3) Causes of pollinator decline, 4) Understanding how pollination works, 5) Why pollinators are important, 6) Generating interest in pollinators, and 7) Creating stewards of the environment. Training ans supplies were provided to educators in Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin to implement the curriculum. Evaluation shows that training sessions were effective. The participants’ perceived changes in knowledge of 12 content areas were statistically significant. Most (97%) had implemented or had plans to implement the curriculum.

Capacity building at a state level is essential and is the next step for this working group. This year’s proposed project objectives are:

1) Provide training for state leaders from new and existing partner states to increase understanding about pollinators and enhance their capacity to lead programming,

2) Provide supplies to educators in additional partner states to create tool kits so educators can lead immersive programming that allows youth to participate in experiential learning,

3) Improve curriculum by revising current lessons, identifying needs, filling gaps in resources,

4) Facilitate partnerships to increase pollinator habitat through educational programs.

Expanded working group includes:

1) Current states: Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Nebraska, Wisconsin; Tennessee and Washington

2) Tribal Nations:  North Dakota and Washington

3) 4-H at Historically Black Colleges (HBCs):  West Virginia State University, Arkansas Pine Bluff, Fort Valley State (Georgia), Tennessee State University

4) 4-H state leaders: Arkansas, South Carolina, Kansas, California, Kentucky

5) K-12 Educators, extension educators, naturalists, and local partners in each state.

The anticipated impact of this program is fostering a coordinated message about the importance of pollinator conservation that results in better understanding, engagement, and action to increase pollinator habitat. This is accomplished through a collaborative, multi-state approach with adult educators leading exemplary youth programming. Participants learn everyone can help pollinators by protecting and adding habitat and implementing IPM practices. A collective effort will have greater impact for pollinators. 

1) Provide training for state leaders from new and existing partner states to increase understanding about pollinators and enhance their capacity to lead programming,

2) Provide supplies to educators in additional partner states to create tool kits so educators can lead immersive programming that allows youth to participate in experiential learning,

3) Improve curriculum by revising current lessons, identifying needs, filling gaps in resources,

4) Facilitate partnerships to increase pollinator habitat through educational programs.