Education & Outreach
Join the SBG Team for a Community BioBlitz!
WHEN: Saturday, August 1, 10 am-12 pm (rain date August 2)
WHERE: Snetsinger Butterfly Garden, Tom Tudek Park, 400 Hermann Drive, State College
WHO: Facilitated by Centre County Master Gardeners from the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden
WHY?
- Get outside and enjoy the SBG, while making a real contribution to its conservation
- Develop a better understanding of the species of plants and insects that share our park
- Gain first-hand experience in biological recording
- Learn how to keep contributing, even after the event is over!
The results of our BioBliz will not only increase awareness of pollinators for participants and nationally, but will also document for local agencies what pollinator and plant species are in the park, helping them plan for protection and promotion of biodiversity. For our Blitz, we will be utilizing the iNaturalist app. This platform allows every agency’s results to be shared and calculated up to a national page within the platform and will show the collective impact for this event.
To get started, sign up at https://inaturalist.org/ Then, simply download the free app on your phone and join the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden Project. This can be done before you arrive at the park. If you’re unsure of how to do it, trained volunteers can help you once you’ve arrived.
WHAT to bring:
Fully charged cell phone, water to drink, comfortable clothes, and a spirit of discovery!
WHAT you can expect:
- Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by Master Gardeners who can help you set up your phone for recording observations.
- A guide will lead your group in various activities throughout the garden, and help you with observations. These might include native plants, insects, invasive species, etc.
HOW:
- Take photos of whatever species are most interesting to you!
- Document common or invasive species as well as things you’ve never seen before–we are aiming for a complete snapshot of the entire habitat
- Take several different photos of the same subject (e.g.bark/leaves or buds/flowers)
- Turn up your screen brightness to help focus
- Rest your camera hand on something else to keep it steady
- Touch the portion of the screen where you want to focus
Online Resources
Notes from the Habitat
Regular dispatches about the native plants and pollinators that call our garden home.
The SBG Directory
Search our directory of birds, plants, butterflies and bees that call the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden home.
How to Plant for Pollinators
Learn the best tips and tricks for attracting pollinators to your own private garden.
Podcast: Pollinator Confidential
Join hosts Lisa and Pam as they uncover the untold stories of native plants… and the pollinators that love them. Special guests shed new light on what’s really going on in the pollinator garden.
From wasps to woolly bears and from trees to bees, you’re bound to learn something new!
This 30- minute musical puppet show was written, designed and performed by Master Gardeners of the SBG.
Through relatable, humorous and scientifically accurate stories and songs, audiences learn about the unique lifestyles and habitat needs of five different pollinators.
Designed to appeal to all ages, audiences for the show have ranged from top pollinator researchers across the globe to local children, teachers and families.
In 2024, the musical was performed for every second- and third-grade class in the State College Area School District, and is planned to be an annually recurring event for SCASD students.
SBG Satellite Garden Program
Through our Satellite Garden program, the SBG partners with area school and community groups to provide assistance with developing pollinator-friendly gardens. Master Gardener volunteers provide educational programming along with design and planting guidance for new gardens that educate the public and promote pollinator conservation.
Pollinator gardens introduce critical concepts of ecosystem health and the importance of establishing and maintaining habitat for pollinators. Students and community members learn about their vital role in this effort by becoming active participants in environmental stewardship.
Local schoolyard habitats become interactive classrooms that increase student engagement and spark curiosity. Lessons learned in the garden spill over to a wide array of subjects, from science and math to literature and art.
For more information about establishing an SBG Satellite Garden, contact: info@snetsingerbutterflygarden.org
