Native bees and honey bees are crucial for sustainable productivity in natural, agricultural, and urban ecosystems. Engaging community scientists to collect data can build capacity to address pollinator research and conservation challenges. Extension is a natural fit for engaging Colorado residents in community science projects given Extension’s history of meeting community needs, managing volunteers, and translating science-based information. Native Bee Watch, a community science program offered through Colorado State University Extension, enables volunteer community scientists to identify and monitor bees via morphospecies categories. Native Bee Watch originated as an in-person program where volunteers collected data in public gardens. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S. in 2020 Native Bee Watch was redesigned as a hybrid program with online training and field data collected at volunteers’ residences. The hybrid format has the potential to increase opportunity and access for volunteers. This presentation will discuss results, successes, and challenges through three lenses: 1) Ecological research and data accuracy, 2) social science research on the volunteers’ perception of the online training and bee monitoring experience, and 3) an educational and outreach program including strategies to engage volunteers. Our successes and challenges provide a deeper understanding of how volunteers engage with learning resources in this technology-mediated design. Such understanding can benefit entomologists, community science coordinators and Extension staff. The results can inform the intentional integration of online training and resources with field-based data collection in ways that support volunteer learning, engagement, retention, and program sustainability.
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