Pollinator education and action for youth

Pollinator Education and Action for Youth aims to educate youth of all ages (grades K-12) about pollinator biology, importance, and conservation. The multi-state working group created age-appropriate, hands-on, and engaging lessons for each grade that meet pollinator education goals and align with Next Generation Science Standards. Over 5000 youth in 7 states participated in educational programs using these materials. 85 educators (K-12 teachers, master gardeners, 4-H educators, and extension specialists) participated in trainings in Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Ohio and received supplies for implementing the lessons. In responses on a retrospective survey, training participants (n=36) reported better knowledge of all content areas after the training than before the training and the perceived changes were statistically significant. The highest level of knowledge increase was perceived in four content areas: 1) resources to engage students in exploring the topic of pollination, 2) effective strategies to deliver education on pollinators, 3) strategies to engage students in exploring the topic of pollinator conservation, and 4) actions that can be taken to benefit pollinators. Of 30 respondents on a post-training survey, 29 (97%) either had implemented, were implementing, or had plans to implement the lessons. The evaluation results show that the curriculum is effective in teaching and has a positive effect on student learning about the topic of pollination and its importance. Youth education programs have the potential to increase public awareness about the importance of pollinators and what can be done for pollinator conservation.