Course Overview
This course includes lectures on foundations of pollination ecology, including implications for conservation, unique pollinator groups, and functional traits. Lectures also include practical applications and checklists for provisioning resources that pollinators need to survive, such as nesting sites and floral resources. This course specifically highlights pollinators in and around New England, as well as regional considerations for pollinator habitat. Finally, this course also includes discussions on management: pruning, pesticides, aesthetics, site evaluation, and more. Students will come away with a well-rounded understanding of how to create and manage pollinator habitat, as well as educate others on the creation, maintenance, and importance of such habitats.
Example topics include:
- Plant-pollinator communities
- Beetle and fly pollination
- Common Massachusetts bee genera
- Pollen specialist bees
- Pollinators and pesticides
- Wild-type natives vs. native cultivars
- Male vs. female bees
And many more!
Instructors
With 14 total instructors and 10+ hours of instruction, the Pollinator Steward Course provides a balanced presentation of hot topics and core conversations in pollination ecology and landscape management. You will hear from experts, including:
- Nicole Bell (principal instructor and coordinator), UMass Extension
- Dr. Robert Gegear of UMass Dartmouth
- Joan Milam of UMass Amherst
- Sloan Tomlinson @thatwaspguy
- Dr. Aaron Anderson with the Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation
- Sara Burrell of The Caterpillar Lab
… and many more, including various Extension professionals from around New England!
Registration
Registration for the fall 2025 session of the Pollinator Steward Certification Program will be open September 1 - September 30.
The cost for the fall 2025 session is $249, all inclusive.
The fee gives you access to:
- 6 self-paced online modules containing materials and additional resources
- 30 recorded lectures, including 13 guest lectures from various pollinator experts
- Discussion boards and the ability to network, share, and ask questions with other students
- Opportunity to connect with both UMass Extension and fellow students via weekly virtual office hours
- Upon successful completion, a Pollinator Steward certification through UMass Extension
Course Details
This course is offered fully online, and it’s asynchronous, meaning you will have on-demand access to lectures and course content at any time, within a defined course period. Once registered, all summer cohort students must finish the program by August 31st.
Technical requirements to successfully complete this course include
- Access to Canvas Catalog - Canvas Catalog is the learning platform used to administer this course. You will receive log-in instructions as part of the registration process.
- A suitable device capable of connecting to the internet - (e.g., desktop or laptop computer, tablet, smartphone; these are listed in the order of preference/convenience for remote instruction) with audio capability. A microphone and speakers are also necessary, and having a webcam is encouraged and will enhance the interactive experience for attendance at virtual office hours should you choose to do so.
- A fast and reliable internet connection – broadband wired or wireless (cellular connections are slower/less reliable in many locations). Zoom has a page about determining bandwidth requirements.
- Familiarity with Zoom - If you are a new user of the Zoom web-conferencing platform, consider practicing with family or friends. There are also a variety of YouTube videos that can be helpful. Note that Zoom is only necessary if you attend weekly virtual office hours.
Requirements for certification
- Complete all modules, including associated quizzes
- Complete final exam
- Complete pollinator habitat quality assessment assignment
- Complete end-of-course survey
Course curriculum
Module 1: Pollination and Pollinators
- Includes 3 lectures; run time 50 minutes
Module 2: Non-Bee Pollinators
- Includes 4 lectures; run time 2 hours
Module 3: All About Bees
- Includes 10 lectures; run time 3 hours
Module 4: Floral Resource Provisioning
- Includes lectures; run time 1.25 hours
Module 5: Nest Site Provisioning
- Includes 3 lectures; run time 45 minutes
Module 6: Management
- Includes 6 lectures; run time 2 hours
Wondering if the program is right for you? For questions related to program content, email UMass Extension Pollinator Specialist and program coordinator Nicole Bell at nicolebell[at]umass[dot]edu (nicolebell[at]umass[dot]edu)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this program entail?
Participants will complete 6 modules, composed of 30 recorded lectures totaling about 10 hours of content. Each of the 6 modules ends with a module quiz. A final exam will cover materials from all 6 modules. Additionally, participants will have the option to attend weekly virtual office hours to ask questions, network with other students, and share insights.
What is the overall level of this course?
This program contains university-level content, including a review of key ecological concepts like functional traits. The purpose is for students to leave with an understanding of why pollinators are important, risks they face, ecological reasons for why they may or may not succeed in different environments, as well as practical applications for habitat.
Who should take this course?
This program is for people that are interested not just in pollinator habitat provisioning, but for those who seek to understand pollinator ecology on a deeper level. This course is for those who seek to be stewards in their respective communities and share the importance of both pollinators and the habitat they depend on.
Is there state reimbursement for this program?
This program is not eligible for state reimbursement through the Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund Express Grants program. Unfortunately, asynchronous (on-demand) programs are not eligible for Express Grants.
Are there pesticide credits offered through this program?
We are not currently offering pesticide credits for this program.
Are there MCH or MCLP credits offered through this program?
MCH credit is available. MCLP credit has been requested.
What is the refund policy?
Please note that there are no refunds available after course content has been accessed.