We are now accepting applications for the 2019 Volunteer Pollinator Specialization program. Ohio Pollinator Advocates, OSU Master Gardeners, Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists, Chadwick Arboretum volunteers, urban farmers and others are invited to apply.
Participants will take part in at least 30 hours of educational training through monthly specialization programs. Our emphasis will be on native bee and bumble bee biology and identification. The orientation on 2/11 and 2/12 is required; all other sessions flexible.
To certify, participants will complete 30 educational hours and 20 volunteer hours by September 2020. Volunteer hours can be obtained through pollinator-related projects, gardens or outreach in your community.
This program is co-sponsored by the OSU Bee Lab in the Department of Entomology and Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens.
Monthly classes (9:30AM to 3:00PM)
February – November, 2019
Locations in and near Franklin County
Topics include:
Bee Biology
Pollinator Ecology
Bee Identification
Bumble Bees
Pollinators in Community Gardens
Intro to Beekeeping
Monarch Butterflies
The Ohio Bee Atlas
Creating Pollinator Habitat
Gardens and Farms for Pollinators
Teaching Others
Dates and locations:
2/11 and 2/12, Chadwick Arboretum on the OSU Main Campus
3/28, OSU Pollinator Summit, Main Campus
4/24, Franklin Park Conservatory
5/16, Stratford Ecological Center, Delaware
6/11, Franklin Park
6/16-22, Bee Blitzes across Ohio
7/11, Chadwick Arboretum
8/3, Chadwick Arboretum
9/5, Meadow visits
10/10 Chadwick Arboretum
10/30, One Day Insect University, OSU
11/13, Chadwick Arboretum
Register here; registration deadline is December 15th, 2018. This program is sure to fill quickly, so don’t delay if you’re interested in participating!
Applicants will be contacted by December 21st about admission to the program.
$250 includes all sessions, supplies and handouts. Payment is not due until January (participants will be contacted with details).
Access the program flier here: http://u.osu.edu/vps2019/vps-central-flier/
For questions or for more information: contact Denise Ellsworth, ellsworth.2@osu.edu