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COMMUNITY SCIENCE

NATIVE BEE HOUSE PROJECT

NATIVE BEE HOUSE COMMUNITY SCIENCE PROJECT

Our Native Bee House Community Science Project can help our native bee friends thrive! Build a DIY native bee nest home to support native bee populations, make observations, and contribute to scientific research!

WHAT IS COMMUNITY SCIENCE?

You don't need a lab coat to participate in science! Sometimes, scientists encounter questions that can't be answered by them or their team alone, and that's where community science comes in. Community science (sometimes called  "participatory science" or "citizen science") is a form of research that provides everyday people the opportunity to contribute data to further our scientific understanding of important issues.  Planet Bee’s community science project is a way for citizens to contribute to research through local observations and stewardship.

WHY BECOME A COMMUNITY SCIENTIST?

By becoming a Community Scientist with Planet Bee, you'll take on a crucial role in conserving our pollinators. Your participation in this research project will contribute to a deeper understanding of native bee biodiversity, with your findings shared among the scientific community, educational institutions, and bee lovers around the world. Let's dive into science together!

1. Build a Native Bee House

Create a backyard habitat for native bees with a simple DIY nest home. These pollinators often live in ground tunnels or hollow plant stems. Below are instructions for three types of bee nests and tips for year-round care.

 

Ensure the health and safety of your native bee nest home with our seasonal care guide.

Link here for detailed instructions to learn how to care for native bee nest home year round! 

MUD BLOCK NEST

WOODEN BLOCK NEST

STEM BUNDLE NEST

2. Register Your Bee House

Once you've built a native bee nest house, please complete our form to register it in our database. Observe your nest house to learn more about the activity of native bees in your area. You can upload as many native bee houses as you build and update your observations over time!

BRING THIS PROGRAM TO YOUR SCHOOL OR CORPORATION

JOIN OUR NATIVE BEE COMMUNITY SCIENCE PROJECTS

Once you create an account you will be able to discover nests in various regions.

Explore Nest Habitats Worldwide

Discover nests in various regions across the globe. Learn about native bee species in different neighborhoods and explore their unique preferences.

Join a Focus Group

Are you passionate about a specific bee-related topic? Connect with like-minded individuals by finding a focus group tailored to your interests.

Engage in Nest Discussions in Forums

Share your successes and insights with the community! Participate in our forums to exchange knowledge, share photos, and ask questions. Let's collectively learn from each other's research endeavors.

3. Input Your Observations Into the Database

Upload your observation data from your native bee nest home to help us understand how to build successful native bee habitats!  This data will be shared with researchers, farmers, students, and industry professionals.

Cosmos

Our resources empower teachers and students to embark on inquiry-based learning journeys, fostering curiosity and stewardship towards environmental impact. Through our NGSS aligned materials, students engage in authentic scientific research, honing critical thinking and problem-solving skills while contributing valuable data to the scientific community. With a blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning, teachers and students collaborate with Planet Bee STEM Educators to actively engage in the learning process. Click below to explore our Native Bee Nest House Digital Toolkit, equipped with everything needed for remote access, including teacher guides, standards alignment support, presentations, activities, videos, and hands-on experiments. Join us in crafting teaching units that facilitate native bee nest building, aiding pollinators and advancing bee research. Together, let's make a positive impact on our ecosystems!

Join us for a rewarding one-hour volunteer experience where team members can build and take home their very own native bee house, providing essential nest habitats for local bee populations. Additionally, participants have the option to donate the nest homes created during the workshop to parks, community centers, and schools, contributing to the conservation of native bees in public spaces. Our onsite workshops offer an educational component featuring an observation hive teeming with live honey bees, hands-on seed ball making activities, and delightful honey-tasting sessions. Don't miss out on this enriching opportunity to support bee conservation efforts while learning and having fun!

4. Connect with your Community

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