The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) established educational pollinator plantings at 10 Minnesota State Parks: Buffalo River, Lake Carlos, Wild River, Afton, William O’ Brien, Fort Snelling, Whitewater, Flandrau, Minneopa, and Myre-Big Island. Each planting provides acres of flower habitat at each park for many species of native pollinators, like Monarch butterflies and native bees. Interpretive waysides convey the importance of pollinators and their habitat to park visitors.
Scope
106 Group developed and oversaw fabrication, delivery, and installation of accessible interpretive exhibits that complement the educational plantings. Each multi-layered interpretive wayside includes compelling graphics and text, audio description, tactile cutouts, a unique audio message for each park, and a call-to-action for visitors. The interpretive theme of these exhibits is “Behind every flower is a pollinator fight for survival that includes you.” Visitors are encouraged to explore the planting and support pollinators and their habitats in their own community.
Outcome
These exhibits educate children and their families about native pollinators. Visitors learn where to find them in parks and how they are connected to the survival of native pollinators. This project supports MN DNR’s commitment to making the outdoors accessible to as many people as possible.
