Educate and Interact on our bee boardwalk...
Pollinator health is undeniably related to the health of humans and ecosystems alike. A third of the crops we eat are pollinated by various pollinating creatures like bats, butterflies, native and non-native bees, and hummingbirds (Singh, 2021). As pollinator health has continued to decline due to a variety of factors such as mites, Colony Collapse Disorder, increased urbanization, inadequate diets, pesticide use, and habitat degradation (NCSL, 2022), it is our responsibility to incorporate pollinator friendly habitats to both educate and provide reosurces for these essential creatures to thirve.
Younger members of the community equally deserve to understand this crucial pollinator-human relationship to protect pollinators through hands-on, interactive installments, and conservation information. An accessible, effective pollinator habitat will be highlighted by a walkable and educational path offering resources, information, and interactive suggestions to both entertain and educate.
Your bee boardwalk story tellers...
Mason Burkeen
Mason is a fourth year Environmental and Sustainability Studies major with a minor in Applied Statistics. He hopes to apply sustainable techniqes to the field of consustruction.
Emily Fredricks
Emily is a fourth year Environmental and Sustainability Studies major with a minor in Hospitality and Tourism Management. She hopes to be able to find a more sustainable way to advance tourism.
Joe Guzman III
Joe is a fourth year Environmental and Sustainability Studies major. He hopes to strengthen the relationship between community and food post graduation through furthered education.
Liberty Mason
Liberty is a third year Environmental and Sustainability Studies major with a minor in Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning. They hope to work for a non-profit that improves food security in urban environments.
After deciding against many ideas such as:
adding to the GVSU arboretum matrix with native flora
making informational signs to pollinator resources around campus
AND
creating 'bee hotels' in urban environments
we decided we would combine many of these attributes into one, creating the bee boardwalk.
With a combination of native plants, interactive informational signs, and effective pollinator garden practices, the bee boardwalk is an interactive home for pollinators to inhabit between forests and cities while also serving as a whimsical teaching experience.
*Our idea for a pollinator boardwalk/interactive garden was inspired by a project Emily had seen implemented by Kent District Library that placed 'story book' pages along a path via park signs, creating an educational and interactive environment for younger children to explore. We believe this same idea can be utilized to increase pollinator education amongst all age groups and act as a permanent pollinator habitat while also encouraging outdoor appreciation.
The Byron Township branch of Kent District Library (KDL) is the local library of Byron Center, MI. KDL collaborated with the local Rotary Club to create a story walk at Whistlestop Park in Byron Center, MI as a way to engage and and encourage children to interact with nature.
Our project stakeholders...
Title: SAP Manager and Educator.
Feedback: Development of a project that is clean, well put together poster to convey our message.
Suggestions: Consider all the logistics. Determine whether project is cost effective.
Title: ENS Librian.
Feedback: Provided us with valuable information for our signage creation.
Suggestions: Consider utilizing Curriculum Materials Library (CLM). Reference the GVSU Beekeeping club.
Title: Lecturer at Cal Poly Humboldt. Former GVSU ENS Professor.
Feedback: Emphasis on project logistics and adding to the existing story walk matrix.
Suggestions: Adding in a map to the project, sign suggestions, and thinking through logistics funding and budget.
Logistics and Goals for Project
Our stakeholders provided crucial feedback into the logistics of a bee boardwalk. With our own objectives in mind, we created a list of goals to achieve with this project:
Logisitics:
Utilizing reclaimed materials
Using diverse, native plant species
Providing QR codes in addition to sign information for further inquiry
Planning a garden that blooms in all seasons to encourage pollinator habitation
Obstructing the pollinator garden as little as possible with footpath while still making it accessible
Goals:
Creating a fun, interactive experience for both education and conservation efforts
Spread awareness to all generations about pollinator importance
Here are examples of a interactive, informational signs about pollinator gardens, how honey bees communicate, and information on native pollinators that offer a fun way to interact with nature and knowledge.
The Boardwalk
Before...
After...
Seen above, the path we selected around Whistlestop Park will be highlighted by signs as readers travel around a pond and semi-wooded area. This location offers an accessible walk close to a parking lot and the addition of pollinator garden plots (seen on the left) would act as a natural buffer to protect the pond from pollutants.
On the left, an example of the pollinator garden plot additions we would add to the Story Walk that act as 'stops' along the boardwalk path. They offer permanent pollinator habitats and promote biodiversity amongst the wildlife at the park.
A final word on the matter...
The Pollinator Boardwalk is meant to instill a sense of responsibility and understanding in all age groups regarding the pollinators in our area; not only bees but all wild pollinators. By educating all ages in a way that is engaging and easy to understand, the Pollinator Boardwalk will hopefully create a community of people dedicated to supporting and sustaining our local pollinators.
Resources Cited:
Andrews, E. (2019). To save the bees or not to save the bees: honey bee health in the Anthropocene. Agriculture & Human Values, 36(4), 891–902. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-019-09946-x
Bee population steady in Dutch cities thanks to pollinator strategy; Scheme involving ' bee hotels' and 'bee stops' reaps rewards as census shows no strong decline in urban population. (2021, April 27). Guardian [London, England], NA. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A659829646/OVIC?u=lom_gvalleysu&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=9bc311c0
Singh, A., & Adhikary, T. (2021). Importance of Pollinators in Fruit Production: A Review. International Journal of Economic Plants, 8(3), 156–161. https://doi.org/10.23910/2/2021.0418e
https://askabiologist.asu.edu/honey-bee-communication
Thank you for reading about our pollinator habitat project--creating a bee boardwalk!!