POLLINATOR HABITAT RESTORATION

About Us

As Minnesota’s leader in nature-based climate solutions through land restoration, Great River Greening is devoted solely to stewardship of our land and water. We engage volunteers of all ages in restoration projects, helping to protect the outdoor places we all know and love, and we’d love to have YOU join us. 

Become a Community Scientist

Supported by grants from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Great River Greening is restoring and enhancing more than 500 acres of pollinator habitat on 28 sites in the Twin Cities Metro area to benefit pollinators and people and to build knowledge of the impact through community-based monitoring.

This monitoring works includes three ways for members of the public to get involved. Click each section below to find out how you can support pollinators today.

  • Attend a community pollinator training or a bumble bee catch-and-release survey with expert identification by the University of Minnesota Bee Lab and the Xerces Society. Look for dates on our events calendar in summer 2027!

  • Great River Greening is partnering with the University of Minnesota Bee Lab to identify the bees you upload to iNaturalist. Bee Lab experts will analyze your bumble bee observations from 16 restoration sites. You can participate (on your own schedule!) by uploading pollinator photos to iNaturalist when you visit the following sites:

    • Anoka High School, Anoka

    • Clearview Elementary School, Clear Lake

    • Crosby Farm Park, Saint Paul

    • Garlough Environmental Magnet School, Saint Paul

    • Heritage Park, St. Cloud

    • Hidden Falls Regional Park, Saint Paul

    • Inspiration HOA Prairie, Bayport

    • Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Eagan

    • Maplewood City Hall, Maplewood

    • Ramsey Station, Ramsey

    • Ritter Farm Park, Lakeville

    • Spring Lake Park Reserve, Hastings

    • Spring Lake Regional Park, Prior Lake

    • Thunder Bay Park, Little Canada

    • Two Rivers High School, Mendota Heights

    • Westwood Hills Nature Center, St. Louis Park

  • Sign up to conduct pollinator surveys in July and August at one of 16 restoration sites. No experience necessary; training provided. For more information, please contact Jessica Drummond at jdrummond@greatrivergreening.org.

Each type of monitoring listed above is an opportunity to learn about pollinator conservation and contribute to broader understanding of the benefits of restoration to pollinators and other insects. We hope you will consider joining us.