Nebraskaland

14 Nebraskaland • October 2020 Thanks to a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, a new habitat education program was initiated by Pheasants and Quail Forever, the University of Nebraska and the Prairie Plains Resource Institute: Milkweed in the Classroom was created for classroom use across Nebraska. Milkweed in the Classroom was developed to address the current decline of monarch butterfly populations and the need to educate students about the importance of pollinators and their habitats. The program encourages students to take an active role in creating their own pollinator habitats, while utilizing conservation practices that can positively impact soil, water, air and wildlife. Participating classrooms will receive a kit that includes everything they need to grow native milkweed plants from seed. Teachers will have access to step-by-step online training videos that cover a range of topics, including instruction on how to monitor the project and successfully incorporate the program into their school's curriculum to meet national science standards. The three-month program starts in February with planting seeds in the classroom, followed by weeks of growing the plants alongside activities designed to educate students on the role pollinators play in producing many of the common foods we eat. Students will learn about the positive impacts that pollinator habitats and milkweed plants provide, including cleaning our water and air, as well as providing habitat for other wildlife species such as pheasants, quail and songbirds. In early May, the milkweed plants should be ready to plant on a site dedicated to the establishment of a milkweed garden, preferably on school property. Pheasants Forever chapter volunteers and staff will provide support to classrooms on growing and planting milkweed. Once the garden is established, students will take a survey to evaluate their knowledge of milkweed and plant ecosystems, pollinators and knowledge on conservation issues. Teachers will have the opportunity to monitor milkweed gardens and gather data on these sites that will be used to populate the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Monarch Conservation Database, which tracks the progress of planting 1.6 billion milkweed stems by 2038. This year, the program is looking for pilot classrooms in Nebraska that can help grow milkweed plants and create pollinator habitats. Milkweed in the Classroom hopes to reach a minimum of 500 students. Through these efforts, the program aims to establish at least 2,000 new milkweed stems in our state and further develop the curriculum and training materials for future use. For more information about Milkweed in the Classroom, contact Drew Larsen, director of education & outreach at Pheasants Forever, Inc. and Quail Forever, (308) 293-1194 or dlarsen@pheasantsforever.org. MILKWEED IN THE CLASSROOM By Julie Geiser IN THE FIELD MONARCH BUTTERFLY ON A SWAMP MILKWEED IN A SARPY COUNTY GARDEN PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS

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