Pollinator Steward Certification

PLEASE NOTE: Registration for the 2023 Pollinator Steward Certification program is now CLOSED. If you MISSED the registration for this year, you can join the contact list for information on the 2024 round of training HERE.

The Pollinator Steward Certification program is offered only by Pollinator Partnership, and empowers those interested in pollinator stewardship with the scientific understanding and practical know-how to help these immensely important animals. Topics covered include pollinator lifecycles, Indigenous pollinator science, lepidoptera conservation, small scale habitat creation in urban contexts, management within agricultural landscapes, application of habitat creation in large right-of-ways, and much more! Over 500 individuals from across the Americas have participated in this unique program since 2020.

Certification requires two steps and one optional step:

1. Completion of a 9-part virtual training module. Once complete, a short learning form must be filled out to share training takeaways.
2. Completion of 1 habitat creation action and 1 outreach and education action. A similar short form must be filled out to show proof of actions taken.
3. The Pollinator Steward Certification training is offered on a donation model to ensure accessibility for as many people as possible. We suggest a donation of $250 USD for those who can afford it, though any amount you are able to donate will be put to work directly towards the continuation and improvement of this program.

Training

The training component of Certification involves in person learning, online modules, or a hybrid. Training is flexible and can meet the needs and interests of different groups. To achieve certification, participants must demonstrate understanding of the following components, which comprise approximately 10 hours of training with additional discussion/question periods. Only Pollinator Partnership can award the Pollinator Steward Certification.

Training must include:

• Pollinator Basics: pollination ecology, information on main pollinators, focus on bees (managed and native), conservation issues, habitat needs, how to help
• Indigenous Perspectives: Indigenous knowledge, history, culture, relationships and considerations in your region
• Selecting Plants for Pollinators: information on coevolution, and consideration of local environment, history, habitat and native plants
• Habitat enhancement techniques: options from preservation, enhancement, and maintaining habitat for pollinators with practical details. This section can include several modules on creating and maintaining specific habitat types (eg, meadows, wetlands, hedgerows, urban etc)
• Identifying and Monitoring Pollinators: how to tell bees, flies, and wasps apart, some of the main bee groups, and how to monitoring pollinator populations formally and informally
• Outreach and Education: learn options for spreading your knowledge and inspiring others

The following components are recommended:

• Planning, budgeting, barriers, and implementation
• In-depth exploration of other pollinator groups (eg butterflies, beetles)
• Artificial pollinator nesting habitat (bee houses)

Follow-Up

In order to receive Pollinator Steward Certification and the ability to use the stamp, follow up activities are required within 6 months of completion of the training modules (up to one year will be considered if activities are dependent on season). Follow up activities are in two categories: 1. Habitat and 2. Education/Outreach. To be certified, demonstration of at least one activity from each category is required. Existing activities (initiated before the workshop) are eligible on a case-by-case basis in consultation with Pollinator Partnership or a designated representative.

Examples of eligible enhancement activities include:

Habitat Actions	Outreach Actions
Creation of pollinator habitat; any size, any location	Creating and disseminating pollinator and garden signage
Removal of invasive plant species	Connecting with other community members and schools to spread pollinator education
Alteration of management practices to promote pollinator health	Art/science outreach through crafts and installations

Customized Pollinator Steward Certification Training Session!

Interested in an organizational or community-wide certification training?

Pollinator Partnership staff can organize and conduct virtual or in-person training for your group. Cost is dependent on amount of logistics Pollinator Partnership is required to carry out (new content required, venue, local expert speakers, site visit etc).

Please contact stewards@pollinator.org with any questions, or to discuss developing a training session or hosting a workshop for your group.

Use of the Pollinator Steward Certification Logo

Once participants have completed the workshop and Pollinator Partnership has confirmed the Habitat and Education criteria have been met, the Steward will receive a high-resolution Pollinator Steward logo. This logo can only be used by the individual that was certified. The certified individual can not transfer the stamp or certification to anyone else, nor are they able to certify other individuals. The Pollinator Steward Certification (and logo) show that the individual has a science and lifecycle based understanding of pollinator needs, and understands habitat creation according to those principles. For example, the certified individual can include the logo on correspondence, email signatures, resumes, and on social media. Contact us if you are interested in certification for an organization.