Educational Programs

Gardens for Butterflies
Pollinator Gardens
Minnesota Master Naturalist Program
Pollinator Conservation Planning Short Course

Gardens for Butterflies, taught by DAS Board member Pat Thomas:

Learn the basics of butterfly gardening and enjoy butterflies this summer. This class will help you create and manage butterfly habitat for your backyard, deck or balcony.   The instructor’s garden has been certified by the National Wildlife Federation and is registered as a Monarch Way Station. This class is offered through Duluth Community Education.

Course number: 1144
When: Tuesday, April 17, 6:30 to 8:00 PM.
Where: Woodland School
Cost: $10
Contact: Marcia Chabot, 728-7463,
Or email Marcia at  marcia.chabot@duluth.k12.mn.us.

You can view this class on the web at duluthcommunityed.org.

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Pollinator Gardens, also taught by Pat Thomas:

Pollinators are in trouble and need our help. This class looks at our yards, gardens, parks, and roadsides through the eyes of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. We will learn about our native pollinators and how to create and manage habitat and nectar corridors which benefit both pollinators and people. This class is offered by Duluth Community Education.

Course number: 1145.
When: Tuesday, April 24, 6:30 to 8:00 PM.
Where: Woodland School
Cost: $10
Contact: Marcia Chabot, 728-7463
Or email Marcia at  marcia.chabot@duluth.k12.mn.us .

You can view this class on the web at duluthcommunityed.org.

Photo of Red-Spotted Purple; courtesy of Wikipedia.

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Minnesota Master Naturalist Program: For adults! Learn about the natural and cultural history of the three major biomes of Minnesota. Your instructors will be affiliated with either a local nature center or natural resource agency, and you'lll receive 40 hours of classroom instruction covering the basics of habitat biology and ecosystems. Learning is based on outdoor activities, PowerPoint slides, suggested resources, curriculum written for the course, and interaction with other students and instructors.

Students will do a capstone project prior to graduation. Class scheduling is designed to accommodate working adults. Upon graduation, Master Naturalist Volunteers are expected to complete 40 hours of volunteer service in the next calendar year. Pins are awarded for completion of service and at special levels of service. To learn more, please visit the Minnesota Master Naturalist Website.

Photo by Ruth Henriquez

Pollinator Conservation Planning Short Course:

Where: UMD Library (see map)
When: June 13, 2012; 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

• Identify approaches to increase and enhance pollinator diversity on the land
• Knowledge of current best management practices that minimize land-use impacts on pollinators
• Identify bees and distinguish them from other insects
• Understand the economics of insect-pollinated crops, and the effects of pollinator decline
• Knowledge of the current Farm Bill pollinator conservation provisions in programs such as WHIP, EQIP, CSP, and CRP
• Ability to assess pollinator habitat and to identify habitat deficiencies
• Ability to make recommendations to farmers and land managers who conserve pollinators (including subjects such as tillage, pesticide use, burning, grazing, and cover cropping)
• Ability to design and implement habitat improvements, such as native plant restoration and nest site enhancements      

Cost:

Registration is $45 per person. Discounted registration is available for NRCS employees at $35 per person. 

Each participant will receive a pollinator conservation toolkit which includes a copy of Xerces' latest book,Attracting Native Pollinators. Protecting North America's Bees and Butterflies, as well as habitat management guidelines and relevant USDA-NRCS and extension publications. 

Lunch is not included. Please bring a sack lunch with you to the course.

Canceled registrations can be refunded until June 4th, 2012. 

Registration:

Registration is required for this course. Click here to register online or for more information about the course.  

Hurry, space is limited!

Questions:

For questions, please contact Ashley Minnerath, Pollinator Program Assistant, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, at shortcourses@xerces.org or (855) 232-6639.    

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