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Hands planting native seedlings

Get Involved

Every garden starts with one step

Whether you know of a vacant lot that could bloom, want to bring a class outside, or are ready to get your hands in the soil — there is a place for you here.

VolunteerSuggest a siteSchools & youthCommunity partnersSupport our mission

Volunteer

Join the crew

Students, families, teachers, and neighbors are all welcome. Volunteers help with planting days, garden care, outreach, and storytelling.

We are still preparing our first sites, so there may be a wait before there is a workday to join. Tell us what interests you and we will contact you when something fits.

Volunteers under 18 will need a parent or guardian's permission. We will send the details before any event.

Prefer to write directly? Email makeabuzz@projectpollinator.org.

Only if you would rather we call.

We only ask this so we can send the right sign-up steps. Students under 18 volunteer with a parent, guardian, teacher, or approved program contact.

Areas of interest (required)

Weekends, weekdays after school, one-time events...

A street address, intersection, or neighborhood is enough — please do not include private details about anyone living nearby.

Ownership, condition, sunlight, water access, how the neighborhood uses it.

JPG, PNG, or HEIC up to 8 MB (stored privately).

A suggestion is the start of a conversation, not an approval. We confirm ownership and written permission before any work begins.

Suggest a Site

Point us toward a place that could grow

A resident, school, neighborhood organization, or property owner can all start a conversation with us.

Tell us where the space is and what you know about it: who owns it, whether it gets sun, and how the neighborhood uses it today. Photographs help, and you can email them to us directly.

Approval comes before planting. We confirm ownership, ask for written permission, and make sure someone will care for the garden before we schedule any work. A suggestion is the beginning of that process, not a commitment.

We are prioritizing sites in and around the East High School neighborhood, but we read every suggestion.

Schools & Youth Programs

Bring a class outside

A pollinator garden can be a laboratory, a service project, and a source of school pride.

We are interested in working with teachers, administrators, and student groups on garden sites and outdoor learning. Because planting on school property requires district approval, the first step is a conversation about what is possible.

We do not have an established curriculum or scheduled programs to enroll in yet. What we can offer is collaboration: help thinking through a site, plant selection, and student roles in planning and stewardship.

Start a school conversation

For educators

  • Site walk-through to assess sunlight, soil, and water access
  • Plant suggestions matched to your school's conditions
  • Student roles in observation, documentation, and planting
  • Connections to Ohio DNR and extension resources for classroom use

Use the volunteer form above and choose "Educator / School Partner" so your message reaches the right person.

What partners can contribute

  • Land — a lot, a bed, or a strip that could host native plants
  • Materials — plants, soil, mulch, tools, or water access
  • People — volunteers for planting and care days
  • Knowledge — horticulture, design, permitting, or outreach

Community Partners

Build something with us

Neighborhood groups, businesses, congregations, and environmental organizations each bring something a garden needs.

We are actively looking for partners for our first sites. If your organization has land, resources, volunteers, or expertise, we would like to hear what you have in mind.

We will be straightforward about what we can commit to. We are a new organization with a small team, and we would rather promise less and follow through.

Propose a partnership

Acknowledgments and resources

Each entry below is labeled by what it actually is. Recognition is not a partnership, and an independent educational resource is not an endorsement of Project Pollinator.

  • National Geographic Society

    Recognized our work

    Sito Rodriguez was named a 2026 Slingshot Challenge Award recipient for the idea that became Project Pollinator. The award recognizes the project; it is not an operating partnership or an endorsement of this website.

    Visit the organization's website

  • Ohio Department of Natural Resources

    Independent educational resource

    Public guidance on native plants, invasive species, and pollinator habitat that we consult when planning plantings. ODNR does not sponsor or endorse Project Pollinator.

    Visit the organization's website

  • Ohio State University Extension

    Independent educational resource

    Horticulture and natural resource guidance for Central Ohio residents, schools, and gardeners. OSU Extension does not sponsor or endorse Project Pollinator.

    Visit the organization's website

Partnership Inquiry

Tell us what you have in mind

Organizations, businesses, congregations, and schools are welcome to start a conversation. A message here reaches our team, not a mailing list.