Where You’ll Be:
You’ll be exploring a variety of natural areas and open spaces throughout Greeley, CO, where a mix of prairie, riparian corridors, and garden habitats support a diverse community of native pollinators. Pollinators provide essential ecological benefits at both local and global scales, and understanding which species are present (or missing!)—and the plants they rely on—helps us assess ecosystem health from the ground up. As you move through these spaces, you’ll get to observe pollinators in their natural context and learn how local plant–pollinator relationships can guide community science and land management decisions.
What You’ll Do:
On the training day, you will learn how to identify common pollinators and the plants they depend on, with practical in-field techniques guided by a Butterfly Pavilion protocol. After the training, volunteers will participate independently by completing brief surveys at assigned sites. Surveys occur once per month for the remainder of the monitoring season, ensuring consistent data collection. Training Date: Sunday, May 31st Monitoring Duration: May – November
Why It Matters:
Pollinators are foundational to the health of Colorado’s ecosystems. Information collected through this program helps land managers and decision-makers understand which species are present, what pressures they face, and how best to support and interact with them.
Eligibility Requirements:
Ages xx+: 16+
Project Difficulty:
This project is considered easy; please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details. Physical Considerations: Exposure to sun and outdoor elements, Exposure to insects (bees, wasps), Potential for long hike. While this is not a strenuous project, volunteers should be prepared for walking on uneven terrain, through high grass, past thorny plants, and in possibly muddy conditions.
Access Factors:
Vehicle Access: No vehicle restrictions – 2WD accessible
