Our Nacogdoches PowWow theme: IT TAKES A VILLAGE: BIODIVERSITY of Pollinators, Plants and People

"It is that range of biodiversity that we must care for – the whole thing – rather than just one or two stars," says naturalist and conservationist, Sir David Attenborough.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/texas-pollinator-powwow-tickets-29080640980

BIRDS and BEARS, BATS and BUTTERFLIES, BEES and BLUEBERRIES... and more! Come learn about pollinators and the Texas plants and animals that depend upon them, the conservation challenges they are facing, and how YOU can help! The TEXAS POLLINATOR POWWOW brings you topics ranging from native plants and black bears, to hummingbirds and butterflies and bees, to urban and rural land management best practices by experts from around the state and beyond. We are pleased to present to you some of the best and brightest of minds and committed professionals in pollination conservation today.

Joining us to speak on crucial pollinator topics thus far are: DR. DOUG TALLAMY (pollinators as wildlife food), DR. MERLIN TUTTLE (bats and their challenges), CLAY BOLT (bumble bee conservation), RICKY LINEX (floral hosts/pollinators), CLIFF SHACKELFORD (hummingbirds and pollination), LAUREN JANSEN SIMPSON (flower flies), DAVID WOLFE (Environmental Defense Fund), and SFASU's own DAWN STOVER (food prairies), DR. DAN BENNETT (solitary wasps), DR. CHRIS COMER (black bears and bees), DR. JOHN PASCARELLA (blueberries and wild bees), BEN PFEIFFER (firefly.org), DR. PABLO JARAMILLO and DR. REBECA QUINONEZ (the truth about Mexico, the forests and monarchs) and DR. ELLEN SHARP (anthropologist; the people and the monarchs)!

For those who have been asking: YES! DOUG TALLAMY will be with us all weekend, Friday through Sunday. You will have plenty of opportunity to talk to him while he's out here on this side of the Mississippi. Go batting with him on Friday night, mothing with him on Saturday night, and birding with Doug on Sunday... :-) And same-same for nearly ALL of our equally valued and worthy speakers! They want to visit with you, too!

It is our desire that the general public be educated, edified, engaged and entertained, and that professional conservation staff and committed volunteers be enabled to network and make connections with others outside their own narrow focus while being provided with a popular venue to share their missions with the community at large.

There is NO CHARGE for admission to the Exhibitor Hall! We will have a fantastic group of pollinator-related EXHIBITORS on hand both days to answer questions, provide resources, and showcase their organizations. There will be LIVE EXHIBITS featuring honey bees and native bats and two native butterfly tents.

MONARCH CITIZEN SCIENCE (capturing and handling and tagging; creating monarch waystation gardens; reporting observations to Journey North) will be taught on site in our MONARCH CENTRAL butterfly tents and exhibitors' square. Two tents of 100 Texas native butterflies and their native nectar plants, sponsored by Monarch Financial Group, will be front and center at the doors.

If you love honey bees and want to know more about them, please visit our exhibitors' HONEY HOLE in the Hall. Desirable pollinator-related items will be available in our ever-popular RAFFLE (your presence is required to win).

There will be an invitation-only SOCIAL RECEPTION honoring conservationist and nature photographer, CLAY BOLT on Thursday, May 4th, at downtown's historic COLE ART CENTER. The invitation-only reception (for speakers and exhibitors) will run concurrently with opening night of the "POLLINATORS OF THE WORLD" art exhibit created by SFASU's DR. DAVE KULHAVY (Dr. Bug) and DR. CHARLIE JONES. (contact Charlie to submit your entry by March 30, 2017 cjones@sfasu.edu) The exhibit will be available to the general public beginning May 5, and run throughout the weekend of the PowWow.

The award-winning DAY'S EDGE PRODUCTIONS has provided three of their short films in the series on bumble bees which feature Clay Bolt, and they will be shown: "Ghost in the Making", "The Effects of Fungicides on Bumble Bee Colonies" and "Tagging Bumble Bees to Study Their Movements".

DR. DAN BENNETT and SFASU invites everyone to an OPEN HOUSE of the university's INSECT COLLECTION on the evening of May 4th. It will run from 600-900 concurrently with the social reception and pollinator art exhibit at the art center.

The evening of May 4th will be busy, but something for everyone! Insect Collection Open House, Pollinators of the World Art Exhibit, and the invitation-only social reception for Clay Bolt- all running concurrently.

There is an ADMISSION charge to the conference SPEAKERS, and to our BAT NIGHT (acoustical bat walk and mist netting stations with bat biologists) and our MOTH NIGHT /CAT WALK (a state-of-the-art identification and photography opportunity). Bat Night will be co-led by Drs. Merlin Tuttle and Chris Comer and Moth Night will be co-led by Drs. Doug Tallamy, Dan Bennett and Scott Longing. Conference registration of at least one of the days (Friday, Saturday or both) is REQUIRED in order to be eligible to also register for Bat Night and/or Moth Night. NO WALK-INS ALLOWED for the outside events.

Our Sunday FIELDWORK DAY in the Pineywoods' bogs and old-growth forests of Boggy Slough is FREE. However, both the Moth Night and the Bat Night, and also the Boggy Slough trip, will be STRICTLY LIMITED to those who have pre-registered for at least one day of the conference. NO WALK-INS ALLOWED for the Boggy Slough trip.

We hope you can join us for one, two or all three days, and we look forward to seeing you there!

FAQs

Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?

None. However, young children and infants are not conducive to the conference hall speakers, but may be interested in the free-to-the-public exhibit hall.

What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?

There is plenty of free parking at the Civic Center for the 4th-6th, and after 500 pm each day on the SFASU campus if you are attending the insect collection open house. Parking is free at the Native Plant Center and the Experimental Forest, also (maps will be included on the event dropdowns on the website before May 4th). If traveling to Apple Springs, Texas on the 7th to visit Boggy Slough, you will be able to park securely, but will need to catch a ride within the property if your vehicle will not take rough terrain.

What can I bring into the event?

Just about anything that will make you comfortable for two days. Particularly cushions and warm clothing (for the a/c) and your favorite non-alcoholic beverages. You can even pack a lunch/cooler if our choices do not suit you.

Please: no pets, glass bottles, video cameras, infants or small children in the conference hall. Children are very welcome in the exhibit hall, however.

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

carrie@texaspollinatorpowwow.org

What's the refund policy?

No refunds for any reason after April 26th.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

It's always best to bring your printed ticket with you for confirmation.

Can I update my registration information?

Yes. Contact carrie@texaspollinatorpowwow.org.

Is my registration fee or ticket transferrable?

If you can't make it, you can certainly give your ticket to a friend. They can tell us at registration. If you have not signed the roster, then they'll have no problems if they have your printed ticket in hand.

Please bring CASH or CHECKS to the PowWow. There are no credit card capabilities. If registering at the door, the PowWow accepts only cash. Some exhibitors may accept a check.

Please be sure to dress warmly for AIR CONDITIONING while inside the civic center, and dress for possible humidity and insects when at our outside events in the evenings and on Sunday.