Pollinator Week
June 22-28, 2008

The Pollinator Partnership is proud to announce that June 22-28, 2008 will celebrate the 2nd Annual National Pollinator Week. Due to the enormous success of National Pollinator Week 2007, officially declared by the U.S. Senate (S.Res. 580) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Pollinator Partnership has received requests from all over the continent to expand on this year's festivities and events. You can help spread our pro-pollinator message by planning your own National Pollinator Week event in your state. E-mail info@coevolution.org so we can publicize your event on www.pollinator.org.

Click here to learn more about National Pollinator Week 2007.

Contact Your Governor About Pollinator Week!
Many states require that one of their citizens request that events such as Pollinator Week be officially declared. Click here for all the materials you need to help.

Pollinator Week Handouts

Click here to view the Pollinator Action Poster! Click here to order your free copy ($5.00 for shipping, limit of 3).

Click here to order a copy of the Pollinator Garden Wheel!

2008 Pollinator Week Events by U.S. Region

Alabama
The Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District will offer the 10th Annual Teacher Workshop, June 9-13, in preparation for National Pollinator Week. It's a 40-hour workshop, free to teachers, to educate them on environmental issues and take them to various kinds of farms and let them talk with the farmers. Subjects include modern farming technology; the actual cost of farming; risks involved and the immense cost of farm machinery, and fertilizers and chemicals. Participants visit Mullins Bee farm, a hydroponics farm, a cattle operation and various crop fields. Click here to view a flyer and click here to view the agenda.

Arizona
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum wants to host a lecture in their new theater complex as part of their Saturday Summer Evenings program during National Pollinator Week. Also, the Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute will host a lecture/workshop as part of their Community Days outreach program.

Arkansas
The Annual Mount Magazine Butterfly Festival will take place at Mount Magazine State Park, June 20-21, 2008. To truly understand and apreciate butterflies, immerse yourself in their natural habitat at Mount Magazine State Park. Activities offered to help everyone enjoy butterflies more such as basic identification, photography, and gardening.  Children of all ages will enjoy the popular Bug Bonanza, which includes live insects, make and take crafts, and games such as "pollinator bingo." Don't miss the special concert Saturday night that closes out this natural festival!  This festival is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.mountmagazinestatepark.com or contact Lori Spencer (spencer_lori@hotmail.com).

California
Sacramento
Sutterville Elementary School in Sacramento will hold a freehands-on fair and fundraiser to support CCD research and stormwater pollution prevention and education on May 10 from 10:00 to 4:30 p.m. Hosted by Mr. Carnie's class, activities will include face painting, bee art, games, songs, cooking, bees wax candles, and Mr. Carnie's class will perform their original honey bee song. The event will held at Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge near Elk Grove, CA. For a list of other pollinator friendly activities, visit http://www.fws.gov/stonelakes/wow.htm. For more information, visit the website at www.beesavers.org or the blog at www.savethebees.learnerblog.com. Click here to watch Mr. Carnie's class's music video. Click here to read the February 28 article in the Sacramento Bee.

San Francisco
San Francisco State University is organizing the Great Sunflower Project this spring and summer. This citizen science project is designed to get regional and even continental data on pollinators.  Each participant will be sent sunflower seeds to grow in their own garden.  During Pollinator Week, everyone will watch their sunflower and record how long it takes for five bees to visit.   The data collected by all the people participating will give us the first map of how pollinators are really doing across the United States and will allow us discover the areas where we need to start helping pollinators.  For more information, visit www.greatsunflower.org or contact Gretchen LeBuhn at lebuhn@sfsu.edu.

Colorado
By proclamation, Colorado's Governor Bill Ritter declared June 22-28, 2008 Pollinator Week in the State of Colorado.

Westminster
The Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, CO will kick off its summer theme, "Pollination Nation," on June 20th. Hands-on exhibits, special classes and garden tours will highlight the importance of pollinators and their habitats. For more information, contact ayarger@butterflies.org.

District of Columbia, Washington
The U.S. Botanic Garden will host a Family Day focusing on pollination and sustainability on June 21, the Saturday before National Pollinator Week. For more information, please contact Katie Palm, Education Specialist at the USBG, at kpalm@aoc.gov or 202-226-8038.

Florida
By proclamation, Florida's Governor Charlie Crist declared June 22-28, 2008 Pollinator Week in the State of Florida, signed February 20, 2008.

Georgia
By proclamation, Georgia's Governor Sonny Perdue declared June 22-28, 2008 Pollinator Week in the State of Georgia, signed March 12, 2008.

Illinois
By proclamation, Iowa's Governor Rod Blagojevich declared June 22-28, 2008 Pollinator Week in the State of Illinois, signed April 4, 2008.

Iowa
By proclamation, Iowa's Governor Chester Culver declared June 22-28, 2008 Pollinator Week in the State of Iowa, signed February 11, 2008.

Maine
By proclamation, Maine's Governor John Baldacci declared June 22-28, 2008 Pollinator Week in the State of Maine.

Maryland
Beltsville
The USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratry will host an Open House on Friday, June 27th from 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m. It will provide an opportunity for beekeepers and the public to see first-hand the research that takes place in Beltsville. Demonstration of molecular diagnosis of bee diseases and field demonstrations of bee colony management including queen rearing and artificial insemination. Please contact Bart Smith for more information (301-504-8821). Click here for a schedule of events.

Cecil County
The Wildlife Habitat Council will celebrate Pollinator Week at New Beginnings: The Woodlawn Wildlife Area on Saturday, June 21st from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event is free, and activities will include pollinated produce sampling, a pollinator hike, and crafts and workshops designed around pollinators. For directions, please visit http://www.wildlifehc.org/ewebeditpro/items/O57F4649.pdf, and for more information, contact Jeff Popp (jpopp@wildlifehc.org or 301-588-8994).

Michigan
By proclamation, Michigan's Governor Jennifer Granholm declared June 22-28, 2008 Pollinator Week in the State of Michigan.

Minnesota
By proclamation, Minnesota's Governor Tim Pawlenty declared June 22-28, 2008 Pollinator Week in the State of Minnesota, signed March 26, 2008.

New Hampshire
Black Cat Honey and Products in Winchester, NH will have talks on bees and other pollinators as well as tours of their bee yard and obersvation hive on Sunday, June 22 and Saturday, June 28. Free drinks, including iced tea and lemonade made with honey, will be served. For more information, contact blackcathoney@hotmail.com

New Mexico
The Rio Grande Botanic Garden in Albuquerque, NM will celebrate Pollinator Week from June 23-June 28 and will have activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Visit hands-on discovery stations around the Botanic Garden to learn about the amazing bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and other creatures that help make your favorite fruits and veggies possible! Go on a pollinator scavenger hunt, create flower and pollinator pairs from recycled materials, and learn how to help these animals in your own yard. For more information, please contact Amy Henderson (ahenderson@cabq.gov or 505-764-6285).

New Jersey
Roseland
The Essex County Environmental Center's Bug Club will be hosting a BugFest on Saturday, June 28th, 2008 at the Essex County Environmental Center. This celebration will include a bee beard and bee bikini to showcase the ultimate in beekeeper high fashion. For more information on the BugFest or the success of our Bug Club (open to children 5-10) please don't hesitate to contact David Alexander.

New York
Macedon
The Wayside Garden Center will have guest speakers and an enclosed outdoor Butterfly Garden, full of butterfly-loving host and nectar trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals. A butterfly release is also a tentative plan for the event. For more information, please contact Trish at (585)223-1222 or trish@waysidegardencenter.com.

Ohio
Bath
The University of Akron Field Station will hold a National Pollinator Week Bug Walk. The Bug Walk is free and will take place at the University of Akron Field Station at the Bath Nature Preserve in Bath, Ohio from 10 am - noon on June 22. For more information, please visit http://www3.uakron.edu/biology/fieldstation/ or contact Randy Mitchell (330-972-5122 or rjm2@uakron.edu)

Kirtland
The Holden Arboretum will be offering daily exploration activities from June 7 through September 1. Specific to pollinator activities, it will have self-guided activities:

Wooster
Secrest Arboretum at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster Ohio will host a landscape walkabout entitled "How to create habitats and plantings for pollinators" on Tuesday June 24th from 2:00pm-4:00pm. As we take a leisurely stroll through the gardens of the Secrest Arboretum we will discuss the importance of pollinators and the things we can do to promote their continued existence in our landscapes. The event is free and open to the public. For general information call (330)263-3761.

Washington
By proclamation, Washington's Governor Christine Gregoire declared June 22-28, 2008 Pollinator Week in the State of Washington, signed February 11, 2008.

Wisconsin
By proclamation, Wisconsin's Governor Jim Doyle declared June 22-28, 2008 Pollinator Week in the State of Wisconsin, signed February 13, 2008.

International Pollinator Week Events

Ottowa, Canada
Jim Dyer of the Pollinator Monitoring Network of Environment Canada will present a free workshop to learn how to identify non-honey bee pollinator insects common to the Ottawa area. A one hour introductory lecture will be followed by field study. Location is Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Saturday June 21, 9:30-12:00. Pre-registration required by June 13. Min. 10 participants, max. 20 (adults or older children). Contact Heather Hamiltonat 613-826-2190 or hhamilton@magma.ca. Sponsored by the Canadian Biodiversity Institute and Ottawa Field Naturalist’s Club.

Events added weekly! E-mail info@coevolution.org with your Pollinator Week event today!