The Problem
Our group came up with this idea after noticing a significant decrease in butterflies, bees, and other pollinators in our neighborhood, especially during migration seasons. Many of the children in our homeschool co-op became curious about why this was happening after a nature walk where we spotted only one monarch butterfly. We began researching and discovered the importance of native plants—particularly milkweed—for pollinators like monarchs, bees, and other beneficial insects. This sparked a passion for taking action and helping restore the natural balance in our local environment. The youth were actively involved in brainstorming how we could make a difference. They participated in identifying areas in our neighborhood and community that lacked native plants, created posters and presentations to educate their peers, and helped plan out how and where to distribute seeds. They were also involved in testing soil, creating plant starter kits, and writing educational materials. Community Plan: We plan to distribute native milkweed seeds, native pollinator seeds, and starter kits with soil and planting instructions to at least 50 households in our community. We\'ll target families with school-age children, local homeschool groups, and neighborhood members who show interest in sustainability and gardening. We\'ll set up a booth at local community events and host a few \"Native Plant Days\" at our local library and community center, where youth can help explain why native plants matter and how easy it is to get started. Each seed kit will include a one-page guide with fun facts, planting tips, and a QR code that links to a kid-created video about the importance of native plants and pollinators. Habitat Restoration: Our group plans to restore small patches of habitat in public green spaces, around community buildings, and in front yards and park areas that currently have only turf grass or invasive species. These spaces will serve as pollinator-friendly gardens filled with native plants. We\'ll especially focus on restoring a walking path near our neighborhood that could become a Monarch Waystation and pollinator corridor. We want the community to enjoy these spaces, so we will also create small, weatherproof educational signs (designed and illustrated by the kids) explaining the purpose of the garden, which pollinators it supports, and how people can create their own at home. We also plan to document the transformation with photos and updates to share with the community online and during community meetings.
