Akii-gikinoo’amaading Environmental Charter School Receives Pollinator Habitat Grant

Charter School

Press Release

Akii-gikinoo’amaading Environmental Charter School has been awarded a pollinator habitat grant from Sand County Foundation.  

It is one of 16 recipients of a competitive grant program that gives high school students hands-on experience growing native wildflowers and establishing habitat for imperiled insect pollinators and monarch butterflies. 

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

Each grant recipient, which includes high school science and agriculture departments from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, receives native seeds and seedlings, consultation, and $1,000 to support project expenses. 

“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 Education and Outreach Specialist. “We encourage applicants to partner with landowners to establish pollinator habitat on agricultural and other working lands.” 

The pollinator habitat grant program is made possible thanks to financial support from Syngenta, Monarch Joint Venture, U.S. Forest Service International Programs, and We Energies Foundation.

Educators and landowners interested in becoming involved in the project are encouraged to contact Haley Diem at hdiem@sandcountyfoundation.org for more information. For the full listing of grant recipients, click here.