This page contains agent resources that will be useful for hosting events around the pollinator census. If you need additional information or help, please contact Becky Griffin at beckygri@uga.edu.
The Basics
- If you use social media, ask to join the Southeast Pollinator Census Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram @SoutheastPollinators.  Throughout the year I will be creating posts that are easily shareable to your county’s social media.
- Please let me know if you hold any workshops or classes on anything pollinator related – pollinator habitat, building bee boxes, insect identification, honey bees, etc. We can promote it through our social media channels.Â
- If you decide to host a census event on the census counting days where the public is invited to your garden to count insects, let me know and I will promote the event.
- There are many activities that you could do at a family or student event. Â Doing bee origami or creating a butterfly puddle, etc. Â Let me know if you need suggestions.
PowerPoint Presentations
Several PowerPoints have been created for your use:
- CLICK for a PowerPoint on the Great Southeast Pollinator Census. It is an easy to follow PowerPoint that goes through step-by-step how to successfully participate in the Census.
- CLICK for a PowerPoint on the Georgia State Pollinator Protection Plan. This is appropriate for homeowners, landscapers, beekeepers, and pesticide operators. Parts are easily hidden to tailor to your audience.
- CLICK for a PowerPoint on Landscaping with Native Wildflowers. This was created by Dr. Bodie Pennisi.Â
- CLICK for Shade Gardening for Pollinators created by Dr. Bodie Pennisi. This can be used for multiple audiences.
Honey Tasting
Below you will find a PowerPoint, a step-by-step plan and two worksheets. These are the basics you need to host a successful honey taste test. All you need to purchase is several varieties of local honey.
Publications and Written Materials
There are resources available for you to hold successful events:
- CLICK for the Insect Counting Guide. This can be printed and distributed at events or used as an online resource.
- CLICK for a Spanish Insect Counting Guide.
- CLICK for an abbreviated, easily printable counting and identification pamphlet. This can be printed and handed out at events.
- CLICK for the Counting Sheet. This sheet has photos which aid in counting.
- CLICK for the Spanish Counting Sheet.
- CLICK for a publication on building bee boxes. This publication also has examples of bees that may visit the bee homes.
- CLICK for the publication The Eco-Friendly Garden: Attracting Pollinators, Beneficial Insects and Other Natural Predators. This is the result of a research project on pollinator plants.
- CLICK for a publication on building bee boxes. It also contains photos of insects that may visit these bee homes.
- CLICK for a popular press article that you can adapt for your county. It is easy to edit and meets the length requirements for most newspapers.
- CLICK for a publication by Heather Alley on building pollinator habitat. This could be used as a basis for entire workshop.
- CLICK for Protecting Georgia’s Pollinators booklet. This is Georgia’s pollinator protection plan.
Additional resources:
Ideas for Pollinator Events
1. Create origami bees, butterflies or dragonflies. This is a non-threatening way to introduce insects to young people. A paper stinger is less scary than the real thing. Simple patterns are easily found through a google search.
2. Use the logos to create items for your events using a service like Vistaprint. You can inexpensively make stickers, t-shirts and even hats. One hint: if you use Vistaprint put the items in your cart and leave the site. They will contact you with a coupon.
3. For Farmers Markets and booths create trivia cards (again, use a service like Vistaprint or even a pharmacy photo shop) to draw people into your booth. One side of the cards has a census logo or a bee photo. One the other side of the card add a trivia question. Ask people to “pick a card, any card” as the logo sides face them. Once they turn the card over they have to answer the question in order to get a bookmark or some prize. You can have pollinator questions and sprinkle in county specific questions like “Who is your county agent?” or “Where is your Extension office?”
4. Use the “Building a Bee Home” instructions in the Creating Native Nest Boxes publication. For children you can pre-drill the holes and have the students sand the box and add the pre-cut roof. They can also add designs with paint, permanent markers, or crayons on the bee home sides.
5. Host an insect scavenger hunt in your demonstration garden. Have the participants use their phones to take photos. Remember phones have a very useful zoom feature for insect close-ups.
6. Check out the Education tab on this website for other lesson plans.
On Census Counting Days:
1. Host a public event for the clients in your county. Â
2. Host a private event to honor your volunteers or county officials. Â
3. Host 4-H or FFA students at your garden.
4. At your event consider having snacks from food where pollinators are needed such as apples or watermelon. Lemon or orange infused water would be refreshing as well.
5. Add a honey taste testing with several types of honey as part of your census counting event.
Artwork and Logos - Feel free to copy any of these for your flyers, social media, signs, etc. The social media memes below have a space for you to add your county logo.
