Bees, bats and butterflies all have one thing in common — they are pollinators! Pollination is a process that is imperative to the success of nearly all-terrestrial life on earth. Humans need healthy pollinator populations to support our food system...

Join Kristie Webber, Education Community Chair and Gabe Tilove, Vice-Chair for their first Education Community Town Hall Meeting in 2021. Please note that break out rooms were not recorded or included in the final recording to promote free conversation...

There are as many ways to run a docent training as there are public gardens! In this Town Hall, members of the Volunteer Community share resources and inspiration about the future of docent training. Town Hall Team, important timestamps, and links to...

During times of uncertainty we are often pushed to our limits--to think outside the box, to build something from nothing, to make the impossible possible. In a world where teaching about nature outdoors is ideal, the education staff at The Morton...

The term “urban forest” is often used to refer to all the trees within a city or town. But the urban forest is part of a much larger social-ecological landscape that supports a complex web of biodiversity, ecosystem services, values, and cultures.  The...

Conducting Food Programming During a Pandemic

Join the Food & Agriculture Community to kick off the 2021 UN Year of Fruits and Vegetables, learn about upcoming Association community elections and dive into how Public Gardens...

Changes in phenology induced by climate change occur across the globe with important
implications for ecosystem functioning and services, species performance and trophic
interactions. Much of the work on phenology, especially leaf out and...

The contributions of crop wild relatives (CWR) to food security depend on their conservation and accessibility for use. The United States contains a diverse native flora of CWR, including those of
important cereal, fruit, nut, oil, pulse, root...

Hear about the revamped Plant Heroes grade-school-based program (it's all new!) with Association Program Manager, Marisol Mata. Dana Render, Director of Education with Trees Atlanta will share how they engage and build leadership with adult volunteers...

This year has challenged all of us in ways we could never have predicted, but it has also shown how resilient we can be if we work together. Educators have shown incredible flexibility and resolve in the face of uncertain circumstances – forging ahead...

Diversification of urban forests is essential to enhance their resilience to future biotic
threats as well as those posed by a changing climate. Arboreta and botanic gardens
host a wide range of plant material that can be evaluated to...

Through a case study from Washington, DC, participants will learn how to get feedback from historically underrepresented groups and tailor cooperative extension programs to people of different races, ages, and academic backgrounds.

Some people...

A strong interpretive theme statement provides a clear big idea and the "so what" message that can help deepen visitor experience. Interpretive themes are typically used for signage projects and programming, but they can be used for so much more. In...

Positive interactions between people and nature inspire behaviours that are in harmony
with biodiversity conservation and also afford physical and mental health benefits.
Since most people live in towns and cities, urban greenspaces are...

“Plant blindness” is the cause of several problems that have plagued botany outreach
and education for over a hundred years. The general public largely does not notice
plants in their environment and therefore do not appreciate how...

Digital media offers a unique set of properties which are not being utilized to their full potential
at public gardens. Digital repositories along with videography and technology have existed in
organizations such as universities and...

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 calls for “strong global partnerships and cooperation” to support the other SDGs. The collections-based science community offers many examples of conservation of plant and fungal biodiversity,...

Universities and other higher education institutions have a critical role in helping
society achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through their research,
learning and teaching, campus operations and leadership. This guide...

The adoption of a Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) in 2002 and its subsequent renewal in 2010 were significant milestones for the Convention on Biological Diversity. Not only did this strategy, its objectives and targets provide a valuable...

While many public gardens are open for visitors, many schools started the fall teaching remotely or having limited in-school time. Educators are thinking of and creating ways to continue to serve school groups amidst the ongoing pandemic. A number of...