Author

Term

Summer 2026

Capstone

Capstone Project

Degree Name

MAED: NSEE

Facilitator(s)

Jana Lo Bello Miller

Content Expert

Alisa Reckinger

Abstract

Pollinator decline is a significant issue which threatens biodiversity, global food systems, and the stability of ecosystems. There are numerous resources available that address pollinator friendly behaviors, but many assume that the audience has access to private land in a suburban or rural area. The recommendations in these resources may be inaccessible to apartment dwellers, renters, and other urban residents with limited control over outdoor spaces. This capstone explores the guiding question: how can an interactive pollinator education kit increase awareness and encourage pollinator-friendly behaviors among urban residents. A review of literature related to pollinator ecology, urban ecosystems, environmental education, and behavior change informed the development of a flexible education kit intended for use by environmental educators, teachers, volunteers and community organizations. The literature demonstrated that although urbanization presents challenges for pollinators, collective action and intentional management can provide meaningful habitat resources. The literature also concluded that increasing knowledge alone is unlikely to lead to lasting behavior change. These frameworks supported the creation of learner centered materials that connect awareness with practical and approachable pollinator-friendly actions for a variety of urban living situations.

Project Type

Lending library education kit

Keywords

Environmental Studies, Science

dc_type

text

dc_publisher

DigitalCommons@Hamline

dc_format

application/pdf

dc_source

School of Education Student Capstone Projects

Included in

Education Commons

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