Tips for Engagement:

• Designate Public Counting Sites: Identify and promote specific parks, natural areas, or public rights-of-way under your jurisdiction as ideal Census counting locations.
• Facilitate Staff Participation: Encourage agency staff (park rangers, naturalists, maintenance crews) to participate in the Census as part of their work or as a team-building activity.
• Promote through Public Outreach: Utilize agency websites, visitor centers, signage, and public programming to inform community members about the Census and how they can participate.
• Highlight Management Practices: Use the Census as an opportunity to showcase how your organization's land management practices (e.g., integrated pest management, native plantings, reduced mowing) support pollinators.
• Collaborate on Data Use: Explore how the Census data can inform your organization's planning, land management decisions, and conservation efforts.
• Consider becoming a Bee City USA (where appropriate): The Bee City USA program is an outreach program from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation that “provides a framework for communities to come together to conserve native pollinators by providing them with healthy habitat that is rich in a variety of native plants, provides nest sites, and is protected from pesticides”.
• Need some quick and easy resources for your Census event? Check out our Pollinator Outreach Kit item list.
• Generic Guidance about what makes a Successful Census Program for Community Organizers
• Generic Guidance about what makes a Successful Census Program for Conservation Organizations

Activities to Build Momentum:

• "Pollinator Pathway" Initiatives: Partner with other agencies or local groups to create or enhance pollinator corridors across public lands.
• Public Education Campaigns: Launch targeted campaigns (e.g., "Park Pollinators," "Roadside Riches") leading up to the Census, educating the public about pollinators in their areas.
• Training for Public-Facing Staff: Train park rangers, naturalists, and other staff on pollinator identification and Census protocols so they can engage and assist visitors.
• Host "BioBlitz" Events: Organize broader biodiversity surveys that include a focus on pollinators, using the Census as a key component.

Utilizing Extension- and Research-Based Resources:

• N.C. Cooperative Extension (various departments): Collaborate with Extension Agents specializing in urban horticulture, agriculture, forestry, and natural resources for expert advice and resources.
• NC Wildlife Resources Commission: Partner on initiatives related to habitat restoration and community science, leveraging their expertise in wildlife management.
• USDA Forest Service / NC Forest Service: Utilize their resources on forest health, native plants, and beneficial insects relevant to forest ecosystems.
• GSePC Data and Reports: Access past Census data and reports to understand pollinator trends and inform your agency's land management strategies.
• University Research: Engage with university researchers who study pollinator populations in natural areas or agricultural landscapes relevant to your organization's mandate.