KidsGardening.org is "buzzing" with activities for National Pollinator Month

June is National Pollinator Month, making it the perfect time for kids to learn about pollinators, the key role they play in ecosystem and garden health and why we should care about their well-being. KidsGardening.org, a national nonprofit and leader in the youth gardening movement

In conjunction with Little Seeds Kids and Wyman’s, KidsGardening.org, a national nonprofit and leader in the youth gardening movement, is excited to celebrate National Pollinator Month with a wide range of resources, including a new grant opportunity. KidsGardening will also spearhead engaging activities, a fun giveaway, and educational materials for families, educators and youth organizations to learn about pollinators.

Why care about pollinators? Not only are they critical for the health of ecosystems, but they’re also needed to produce many of our favorite foods, including apples, cucumbers, zucchini, almonds, and strawberries, which come from flowers after they’ve been pollinated. Pollinators are also needed to produce many of our food plants that are grown from seed, because without pollination the plants can’t produce the seeds needed to grow more plants. It’s estimated that one out of every three mouthfuls we eat depends on pollinators!

By tending a pollinator garden or learning about the many types of pollinators, kids learn to care for living things and become environmental stewards. Here's a sampling of what you'll find at KidsGardening.org:

Pollinator garden grant
KidsGardening and Little Seeds Kids, a brand of Dorel Home (the home furnishings division of Dorel Industries Inc., TSX: DII.B; DII.A), are teaming up to offer the Little Seeds Pollinator Pals Grant to support youth garden programs interested in preserving and creating pollinator habitats. Twenty programs will be awarded checks of $500 to support the development of new and expansion of existing pollinator gardens. Grant applications are due July 15, 2022. (Learn more: https://kidsgardening.org/grant-opportunities/pollinator-pals-22/ )

New pollinator resources
In partnership with Wyman's, KidsGardening is excited to release three new activity guides that celebrate native pollinators. Designed for both educators and families, they explore native plant/pollinator relationships and include activities to get kids excited about the important role they play in our environment. The associated Bee Wild Giveaway offers an opportunity to win one of five pollinator-themed swag packs. (Learn more: https://kidsgardening.org/the-latest-pollinators-wymans/ )

In-depth lesson plans and activities
Lessons to Grow By is a comprehensive study guide that offers detailed information and hands-on activities for kids with supplemental suggested reading, videos, and more. The Pollinator unit has four modules and is available for free in both English and Spanish. (Learn more: https://kidsgardening.org/the-latest-lessons-to-grow-by/ )

And more! You'll find even more engaging resources, including step-by-step lesson plans, as well as information on starting a pollinator garden, choosing plants to attract a variety of pollinators, and so much more at KidsGardening.org!

Related links

• Little Seeds Pollinator Pals Grant: https://kidsgardening.org/grant-opportunities/pollinator-pals-22/
• Celebrating Native Pollinators with Wyman’s: https://kidsgardening.org/the-latest-pollinators-wymans
• Lessons to Grow By: https://kidsgardening.org/the-latest-lessons-to-grow-by