student conservation Archives - Monarch Waystation Network

Coming Soon...Spring!?

Here it is mid-February, and my office window has been open this whole week. These unseasonably warm days do not seem "normal" to me. However, since I have not been documenting these "first signs of spring" as part of the National Phenology Network's incredible phenology tracking project, I cannot use data to back up my claim that spring is arriving early!

In actuality, I would not document and report when I first open my office window each year. However, most of us do make general observations regarding spring's arrival- when the first crocus blooms, the first monarch sighting, when we first hear bullfrogs, when apple trees or lilacs bloom, or even when allergy season starts. So, why not take a few minutes to report what you and your students observe in your garden each spring, and contribute to an extremely important scientific database? If you need more of a focus, USA-NPN has a specific campaign- Nectar Connectors- to obtain data on pollinator plants. Knowing when and where nectar sources are available for monarchs and other important pollinators across the country is vital in driving conservation-related policy.

The USA National Phenology Network serves science and society by promoting broad understanding of plant and animal phenology and its relationship with environmental change.Nature's Notebook is the USA-PNP project to connect people with nature to benefit our changing planet. Teachers, students, researchers, and volunteers collect and report standardized ground observations of phenology. To participate in this important scientific research, click on the link above. Setting up an account is super easy, as is reporting your data. There's even an app for quick reporting while in the field! And don't forget to share your experiences in our forum, the backbone of this Monarch Waystation Network!

Monarch Waystation Network: Looking Back at 2016 and Ahead to 2017

Since I began working as the Education Coordinator for Monarch Watch in April, I have had the pleasure of working with, getting to know, and supporting many incredible educators, students and community members! The past nine months have been filled with exciting moments, learning moments and inspirational moments. I want to personally thank each and every one of you who has been a part of this journey. I am honored to support you along the way. Below is a summary of this time, along with some image and quote collages. We have accomplished a lot in a short amount of time, and I am looking forward to accomplishing even more in 2017! Remember, I am here to support you and your students. What this looks like is an evolving process, so let’s all be creative and reach even more students this year!

I know you are busy, so below are just some of the many highlights from 2016 to ponder as we head into a new year together!

Development:

-Needs assessment sent to 315 educators asking for your input in developing the MWN

-64% response rate showed overwhelming need for support, and provided areas to emphasize

-Based on your needs, the MWN was officially launched in August, and consists of four primary components: a website, a forum, a newsletter, and email correspondence

-Since beginning the Free Milkweed for Schools and Nonprofits program in 2014, Monarch Watch has delivered a free flat of 32 milkweed plants to 560 different recipients. Of these recipients, 303 were schools and 257 were nonprofits. In addition to these 303 schools, I also reached out to the schools that already had certified Monarch Waystation gardens before our free milkweeds program began in 2014. In all, there are currently around 1,500 documented schools receiving support through the Monarch Waystation Network!

Website:

-forum

-curricula

-student challenge questions

-garden-related resources

-insect-related resources

-blog

- images you have submitted to me grace the website’s pages and evoke a personal connection to this project

-and much more

Forum:

The forum truly creates the foundation of this project, and sets it apart from other monarch-focused education programs. The forum is a place for schools, educators and students to connect, share ideas or lessons, ask questions, post pictures and gain inspiration. There are currently 164 teachers and students registered on the forum. The forum has the potential to be a very special and unique form of support for you, so I hope 2017 brings more activity and engagement. Please let me know how I can improve this to make you want to participate more.

Newsletter:

-Currently, the mailing list consists of 1,454 recipients

-The goals of the newsletter are to provide quick tips, small bits of information, highlight inspirational stories, and basically to regularly remind you that I am here to support you and your students with this project.

Email Support:

-Correspondence with anywhere between 5-25 educators and/or students per week

Additional Outreach:

-Article for the Green Schools National Network Newsletter, to be published this month

-Poster presentation at the National Association of Biology Teachers Conference.

-Partnership with a local high school, providing consultation support for their project of restoring an old football field into a native prairie

-Numerous individualized projects developed by educators, students and community members all over North America

Ideas/Goals for 2017:

- “Featured Waystation”

-contests

-“Ask a Biologist”

-webinars

-Skype

-increased social media presence

-Solicit more feedback and suggestions from you, because the more ownership you have of the Monarch Waystation Network, the more successful and sustainable it will be.

-In December, Monarch Watch was awarded funding to extend the Free Milkweed for Schools and Nonprofits program another year, which will add an additional 160 schools to the MWN!