Pollinator Palooza Celebration buzzing into Aiken!
Capstone event marks end of school program
Aiken, S.C., June 26, 2023 – The University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory lauds pollinators with the final celebration of the “Let’s Grow Together” program through a partnership with the US Forest Service – Savannah River. This big bash focused on all things pollinators will be held at the SREL Conference Center on Friday, June 30, 2023, from 10 AM – 12 PM. The SREL Conference Center is located at 3280 Williston Rd, Aiken, SC 29803.
This free event is geared for children in first through sixth grade and their families. It will feature hands-on S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math) activities. Children can expect to create hummingbird feeders, design unique insects, and plant their own flowers to experience the magic of pollination at home.
The Pollinator Palooza event is part of the “Let’s Grow Together” initiative sponsored by the USDA Forest Service – Savannah River. This six-year long program has reached thousands of students over its tenure throughout the Central Savannah River Area.
Assistant Director for Outreach and Education, Katrina Ford stated, “this program has expanded SREL’s reach by reaching students through education about the plight of pollinators in ecosystems. Pollinators are critical to the growth of products we use daily from paper commodities to food. Students taking part in this program have been amazed to learn where their food comes from and the importance of pollinators.”
Ford stated that while this is the final large-scale event for the program, in late summer new resources will be available on SREL’s website for teachers and families to continue teaching students about pollinators and the role they play. The “Let’s Grow Together” program concludes September 30, 2023.
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About the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory: The Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, a research unit of the University of Georgia, located near Aiken, South Carolina, pursues a plethora of research interests from atoms to ecosystems in the realm of ecology. For over seven decades, the SREL’s mission has provided an independent evaluation of the impact of Savannah River Site’s operations on the environment to the public and to the Department of Energy. This mission is accomplished through research, education, and outreach.