Pollinator Grants Available to High Schools

Sand County Foundation is now accepting applications from high school teachers for pollinator habitat grants.

This competitive grant program gives Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin high school students hands-on experience growing native wildflowers and establishing habitat for imperiled insect pollinators and monarch butterflies.

Successful applications will receive native seeds and seedlings, consultation, and $1,000 to support project expenses. The application deadline is November 17, 2023. To apply, visit www.sandcountyfoundation.org/SchoolGrants.

Insect pollinators are essential for crop pollination and ecological diversity. In recent years their populations have declined partly due to loss habitat, especially in the agricultural landscape.

“Students will germinate and grow native plants over the winter, and plant them outside in the spring as an experiential learning opportunity,” said Haley Diem, Sand County Foundation school grant program coordinator. “We encourage applicants to partner with landowners to establish pollinator habitat on agricultural and other working lands.”

Pollinator habitat grant program sponsors include: Syngenta, Enel North America, Monarch Joint Venture, and U.S. Forest Service International Programs.

“Enel understands the fundamental role pollinators play in our natural world. We’ve incorporated pollinator habitats into solar projects, recognizing that renewable energy can not only reduce carbon emissions but also support the ecosystems surrounding these projects,” said Jesse Puckett, Director of Sustainability Projects and Community Affairs for Enel North America. “We’re honored to support this important program and are grateful for the Sand County Foundation’s work to engage high schoolers in developing pollinator habitats.”

In addition to the grant program, teachers can access a Pollinator Habitat Curriculum Guide. Aligned with state and national education standards, the guide’s activities engage students in planning, establishing, managing, and monitoring prairie habitat. The guide is available for free download at https://bit.ly/2JHdq1u.