Education

Providing pollinator education to local residents and visitors is also a main goal of the project, to inspire many others to create their own pollinator-friendly gardens no matter where they live!  

Current pollinator education has been done through: 

• Free classes at special event celebrations on Earth Day 2023 and 2024, taught by project coordinator Emily Bishton, Jeanne Dodds from the Endangered Species Coalition, and Rachel Burke from Bats Conservation International.

• Step-by-step, in-person guidance of community volunteers on proper soil-building, planting techniques, and simple DIY irrigation systems during the process of creating of each garden;

• All garden visitors see examples of easy-to-grow pollinator-friendly plants and other features in each garden, including the irrigation and maintenance practices that conserve our precious water;

• The Pollinator Plant List on this website;

• The fabulous, pollinator-themed, Endangered Species @50 mural and the new Nighttime Pollinators mural at the Arivaca Dancehall!

Soon to Come:

• Pollinators Week 2024 special event, featuring free classes from local butterfly expert Mary Scott and Monica King from the Southern AZ Beekeeper's Assoc. and free activity tables sponsored by the Xerces Society and the Arivaca Library!

• Printed brochures available free to the public at each pollinator garden;

• Free, in-person, hands-on classes with fun and educational, step-by-step instruction and practice at new pollinator gardens, and eventually at "Plaza de la Amistad" public park in the center of Arivaca!

Stay tuned for more info! :)