KIB KICKS OFF THIRD ANNUAL POLLINATOR COUNT

By: Derek Glass

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: 
Ashley Haynes
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc.

dnl@kibi.org

c: 317-793-2871

KIB kicks off Indianapolis’ Third Annual Wild Pollinator Count to snapshot city’s pollinator health
Activities June 18 – July 22 to raise awareness of pollinator’s impact on the city

INDIANAPOLIS – (June 18, 2018) Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. (KIB) is calling anyone in Indianapolis to become community scientists in KIB’s annual Pollinator Count Month between June 18 – July 22. This month-long event will engage the city in the important work of gathering data to help raise awareness of how vital pollinators are to the Indianapolis food system and guide conservation and restoration efforts, such as tree plantings. “Pollinators” can be birds, bees, butterflies, beetles, or any living things that transfers pollen. 

Why count pollinators? One in every three bites of food we eat are impacted by bees and other pollinators.

Ready to be a community scientist? Pollinator Count Kits are available for download on KIB’s website (www.kibi.org/kibees), all Indianapolis Public Library branches, and community partners. Kits include a Pollinator Data Sheet and a guide to common Indiana pollinators. Data can be uploaded to the KIB Pollinator Count iNatuarlist project or delivered to KIB’s offices (1029 Fletcher Ave). 

DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT POLLINATOR COUNT WEEK:

• WHEN: Monday, June 18 – Monday, July 22, 2018
• WHERE: Yards, Indy Parks, and KIB GreenSpaces across Indianapolis
• COST: FREE
• WHAT: Join with fellow citizen scientists to count Indianapolis’ buzzing pollinator population
• HOW: Visit www.kibi.org/KIBees to download a Pollinator Kit, view full event details, and submit count data. Then head outside to count pollinators!

CALENDAR OF PUBLIC EVENTS FOR KIB’S POLLINATOR COUNT MONTH INCLUDE:

• Springdale Chinquapin Oak Workday (Monday, June 18 at 8am – 12pm)
  • KIB will be kicking off the first official day of Pollinator Count with a fun in the sun count workday at the Springdale Oak greenspace
  • Location: Springdale GreenSpace, 1029 Fletcher Ave #100, Indianapolis, IN 46203
• Happy Hour Weeding (Friday, June 22 at 3pm)
  • Join us for Happy Hour Weeding to learn what’s a weed and what’s not, why planting natives is important to the ecosystem, and to count the pollinators around KIB’s headquarters.
  • Location: Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, 1029 Fletcher Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
• Pollinator Day at the State Museum (June 23 from 10am – 5pm)
  • Want a great way to celebrate National Pollinator Week? Come out to the Indiana State Museum to learn more about pollination season, how to get involved, and even create some pollinating goodies.
  • Location: Indiana State Museum, 650 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
• DigIndy Manhole Art (Saturday, June 30 at 10am – 4pm) 
  • This lively event will be open for all to step out and learn about how DigIndy is working to improve the Indianapolis water system. The fun filled opportunity will include manhole beautification by local artists and a pollinator count along Mass Ave.
  • Location: In front of Anne Dancing along Mass Ave.
• Pollinator Night at Sun King Brewery (Tuesday, July 10 from 4:30 – 6:30pm) 
  • KIB’s Urban Naturalists will be posted up at Sun King’s downtown location to lead pollinator counts, teach about the importance of native plants and habitat restoration
  • Location: Sun King Brewery, 135 North College Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46202
• IMPD East Community Day (Wednesday, July 11 from 10am – 1:30pm) 
  • KIB will be out alongside IMPD East for a day of community fun, information on upcoming events, and a chance to count the pollinators in Brookside Park.
  • Location: Brookside Park, 3500 Brookside Pkwy S Dr. Indianapolis, IN 46201
• Indiana Landmarks Treasure Hunt (Saturday, July 14 from 9am – 3pm)
  • Why not take a few minutes to hunt for pollinators while you’re on a treasure hunt? Visit our booth for pollinator counting tools and cool prizes.
  • Location: Indiana Landmarks, 1201 Central Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
• Happy Hour Weeding (Friday, July 20 at 3pm) 
  • KIB will be hosting another Happy Hour Weeding opportunity. Join us to learn why planting natives is important to the ecosystem and to count the pollinators around KIB’s headquarters.
  • Location: Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, 1029 Fletcher Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
• Quantum Leap with Indiana Humanities (September 15 from 2pm – 4:30pm)
  • Indiana Humanities will be hosting the annual field trip to Purdue to explore and uncover the world of humanities and S.T.E.M. This event allows people to experience nature through tours and thought provoking literary discussions.
  • Location: Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall West Lafayette, IN 47907

KIB RECOMMENDED PLACES TO FIND POLLINATOR COUNT SHEET OR COUNT OPPORTUNITIES

• Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s IPL Project GreenSpaces
• Benedict Inn, 1402 Southern Ave
• Community Caring & Sharing, 2830 S. Holt Rd 
• Millersville at Fall Creek Preserve, 5550 E. Fall Creek Pkwy
• Athenaeum GreenSpace and Raingarden, 401 E. Michigan St
• Ransom Place Neighborhood Park, 701 W. St. Clair St
• Merrill Street Pocket Park, 598 Virginia Ave
• Complete list of KIB GreenSpace locations: 
• Newsfields Gardens and the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres: 4000 Michigan Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46208
• City Market: 222 E Market St, Indianapolis, IN 46204 
• Indianapolis Public Library Branches
• Butler University, Holcomb Gardens: Garden Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46208
• All 210 Indy Parks locations (check out the trees KIB planted this spring in Washington Park!)

POLLINATOR CONTEST AND PRIZES
The opportunities to get involved, compete, and count are endless! This year KIB will be hosting some fun-filled challenges throughout the month span for all the curious citizen scientists. Stay up to date on all our social media sites to learn about upcoming Instagram photo drawings under #KIBees, weekly scavenger hunt opportunities around Indianapolis, and our “Red, White, & KIBees” themed competition in July.

UPCOMING CONTESTS AND ACTIVITIES

• Social media scavenger hunt
• Adopt-A-Block pollinator contest
• Weekly “Lil” citizen scientists’ challenges
• Instagram contest in July
•  

About Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. (KIB)
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization with a mission to engage diverse communities to create vibrant public places, helping people and nature thrive. Annually KIB works with nearly 20,000 volunteers on over 800 community projects. To learn more, visit www.kibi.org, or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @kibiorg.

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