This year, our Rotary Club proudly participated in Operation Pollination.
Operation Pollination is an international collaborative effort that emphasizes the importance of restoring and maintaining pollinator habitats on both public and private lands.
Through collaboration and outreach, Operation Pollination is developing an interconnected mosaic of pollinator habitats. These efforts are crucial to stabilizing and increasing the populations of vital pollinator species.
With the ongoing loss of pollinators, it's critical to expand our efforts to reverse these declines and restore healthy pollinator populations. Our goal is to collaboratively protect and enhance pollinator species and their habitats.
Here’s how they’re making a difference:
• Increasing and improving pollinator habitats on public and private lands.
• Developing strategic public-private partnerships to create and improve these habitats while providing educational opportunities.
• Encouraging voluntary, collaborative, and locally-led conservation efforts to maintain and enhance working landscapes.
One of our key initiatives was the Library Preschool Program. Children aged 3 to 5 engaged in weekly read-aloud sessions and STEAM activities, learning about Monarch butterflies. Each child received materials to build their own pollinator garden at home. They also observed a Monarch habitat, witnessing the metamorphosis and release of these magnificent butterflies.
Rotary Club members transformed the library’s garden by laying down cardboard, spreading soil, and planting seeds to create a vibrant pollinator-friendly space. We owe a special thanks to to Kelloggs Garden Center, who donated a triaxle of topsoil to help offset the cost of this project.
In the future, we plan to install a lawn sign to identify and celebrate this beautiful garden.
Looking ahead, we aim to expand our pollinator gardens to Julia Ribaudos and The Hideout, further spreading the benefits of these habitats. More to come in the future on those projects.
One of our Rotarians & the individual responsible for bringing this project to our club, Diana DeVito, will participate in the Monarch tracking project in Lacawac Sanctuary this August, contributing valuable data to support these incredible creatures.
We also have seed packets available for community members who want to plant their own pollinator gardens, making it easy for everyone to contribute to this important cause. If you’re interested, please reach out to us on Facebook or Instagram or send an email to hamlinlakearielrotary@gmail.com.
On June 29, at 9:00 A.M. we will meet again at the library to lay cardboard, spread soil that Kelloggs dropped off and spread seed. Volunteers are needed and appreciated!
Together, we’re making a lasting impact.
As always, we are so thankful to be a part of and to serve such a wonderful community. We hope that you will join us in supporting our pollinators and ensuring a thriving environment for generations to come.