How to Help Your Community Become a Bee City or Bee Campus
2026-05-21 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
10 AM PT / 11 AM MT / 12 PM CT / 1 PM ET

Do you want to make your community a Bee City USA or Bee Campus USA affiliate? We’d love to help! Join us for an overview of the application process and commitments, along with tips for organizing a BCUSA campaign. Whether you are a home gardener, city manager, professor, student, or just interested in saving the bees, there can be a role for you to make community more pollinator friendly.
This webinar will be recorded and available on the Xerces Society YouTube channel on the Bee City USA Playlist. Closed Captioning will be available during this webinar.
To request a reasonable accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact outreach@xerces.org.

Speakers:
Laura Rost, National Coordinator, Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA
The Xerces Society
Carly Hirschmann, Community Engagement Specialist, Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA
The Xerces Society
Register Here Today!
Photo credit: Jalia Killings (Bee City USA – Norcross, GA)

Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA Renewal Reports and Fees Due
2026-05-31 | Online
The window to submit Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA annual renewal reports on your 2025 activities closes May 31. Please email beecityusa@xerces.org if you need an extension.
Log in, go to the “My Profile” button, and click on the “Renewal” tab to fill out the online renewal form. Once complete, pay your renewal fee on the “Fee Payment” tab. The fee can be waived if it is a barrier to participation. Email beecityusa@xerces.org for a link to the waiver form. Please note: we ask that you complete your report before requesting a waiver.
Who is due to renew?:

If your city or campus was certified in 2024 or earlier: your renewal report and annual fee are due by May 31, 2026. If you were one of our first 60 affiliates, you are an early adopter and do not need to pay the renewal fee, just fill out the renewal report.
If your city or campus was certified in 2025: your first renewal report and annual fee are not due until May 31, 2027.

If this is your first year reporting, check out some of last year’s reports and our collective annual report for inspiration.
Thank you!

Image: Bee City USA – Grapevine, TX. Credit: Cindy Harris

Proposal Window Open: Southern California Residential Habitat Kits
2026-06-01 - 2026-06-30
☀️ Qualifying projects: Residential properties, school yards, community gardens, and urban gardens
☀️ Qualifying counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego
☀️ Special kit features: Supports monarch butterflies, bumble bees, and other native pollinators
☀️ Project proposals: June 1 – June 30, 2026
☀️ Kit pickup: September / December
Learn more and submit your proposal here

No Time to Despair: How You Can Mobilize to Protect Pollinators from Pesticides as a Gardener, Neighbor, and Community Member
2026-06-02 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
3 – 4:30 PM PDT / 4 – 5:30 PM MDT / 5 – 6:30 PM CDT / 6 – 7:30 PM EDT
Webinar registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_z9BdvdpzTJuwAcVXIieM-A
In-person event registration (Asheville Botanical Garden, 151 WT Weaver Blvd, Asheville, NC, 28804): https://ashevillebotanicalgardens.square.site/classes
If you live in the Asheville area, we suggest registering for both the in-person and webinar options since in-person capacity is only 40 people. Everyone who registers for the webinar will receive a recording afterwards.
Bee City USA – Asheville, NC is hosting a hybrid in-person and online presentation with Sharon Selvaggio from the Xerces Society. Bee Cities and Bee Campuses are welcome to join the webinar or, if you are nearby, attend in-person as long as seats are available.
Presentation description:
Tiny, inconspicuous, and underappreciated species hold our world together. Sharon Selvaggio with the Xerces Society will discuss why pesticides in homes, gardens, agriculture, and natural areas are a leading threat to bees, butterflies, and other insects. But there is much to be hopeful about! She’ll also share inspiring examples and practical resources for those ready to take action in their gardens, neighborhoods, towns, campuses, and states.
Speaker:

Sharon Selvaggio is a Pesticide Reduction Program specialist with the Xerces Society. She leads Xerces’ work to advance pollinator-safe nursery plant production, as well as Xerces’ efforts to reduce pesticide impacts within natural lands. Previously, Sharon worked for 27 years for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service as a wildlife biologist, conservation planner, and national wildlife refuge manager. Sharon earned her M.S. in Energy and Resources at University of California-Berkeley.
Pollination Celebration! is presented by Bee City USA – Asheville, NC in partnership with the City of Asheville. This webinar will be recorded and available on the Xerces Society YouTube channel on the Bee City USA Playlist and emailed to those who register. Closed Captioning will be available during this webinar.

Ask the Experts! How Can You Protect Pollinators From Pesticides?
2026-06-16 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM MT / 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Join our panel of experts to answer your questions about how to manage pests and keep pesticides away from your garden. Bring your questions about buying bee safe plants, how to address your pest issues, and what you can do to reduce pesticide use.
To learn more about the Bring Back the Pollinators Pledge go to: www.bringbackthepollinators.org
This webinar will be recorded and available on the Xerces Society’s YouTube channel. Closed Captioning will be available during this webinar.
Learn more and register here today!
Xerces Society presenters include: Aaron Anderson, Jacqueline Buenrostro, Emily May, and Sharon Selvaggio.
To request a reasonable accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact outreach@xerces.org.

6th Annual Manassas Bee Festival
2026-06-20 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Liberia House and Grounds, 8601 Portner Ave, Manassas City, VA, United States
6th Annual Manassas Bee Festival will be held Saturday, June 20, 2026. from 10am to 2pm at Liberia House and Grounds, Manassas.
Join thousands of visitors and buzz on by to have fun and learn about honeybees, native pollinators, and planting native plants at this FREE annual event!
Look at the fun and educational activities that we are planning in the City of Manassas!
Sign-up to join us as a vendor, sponsor, speaker, or volunteer.
Thank you to the City of Manassas, Liberia House and Grounds, and Sponsors, Supporters, Partners and Friends for their support! We are a Bee City USA!

Pollinator Week!
2026-06-22 - 2026-06-28 | Online
Pollinator Week is an annual celebration in support of pollinator health. It is a time to raise awareness for pollinators and spread the word about what we can do to protect them. The great thing about Pollinator Week is that you can celebrate and get involved any way you like! Popular events include planting pollinator habitat, hosting garden tours, movie screenings, pollinator plant giveaways, bioblitzes, and so much more. Read Bee City and Bee Campus annual reports for inspiration

Who's Living in Your Pollinator Garden?
2026-06-25 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM MT / 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Your pollinator garden is visited by all sorts of beneficial insects, from bees to predatory bugs to lacewings. In this webinar, Jennifer Hopwood and Aaron Anderson of the Xerces Society will discuss how to identify and monitor the amazing invertebrates that live in and visit your pollinator habitat. They will also talk through the habitat needs of beneficial insects, pesticide risks, and some simple suggestions for insecticide-free pest management.
This webinar will be recorded and available on the Xerces Society YouTube channel. Closed Captioning will be available during this webinar.
Learn more and register here today!

Aaron Anderson – Pesticide Program Specialist, Towns and Cities Lead – Xerces Society

Jennifer Hopwood – Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist, NRCS Partner Staff Support, Roadside Specialist – Xerces Society
To request a reasonable accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact outreach@xerces.org.

Explore Our Ecosystems (Gahanna, OH)
2026-06-27 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Woodside Green Park, 213 Camrose Ct, Gahanna, OH, 43230, United States
Do you love nature? Celebrate Gahanna’s unique ecosystems at this outdoor event held at Woodside Green Park. Learn about forests, vernal pools, ponds, prairies, creeks, and other habitats from Gahanna Parks & Recreation staff and partner organizations. This event will include creek activities, kayaking, forest hikes, children’s activities, wildlife education, presentation of Gahanna’s BioBlitz results, and much more!

Bee City USA Coffee and Coworking: All About Outreach!
2026-06-30 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
11 AM PT / 12 PM MT / 1 PM CT / 2 PM ET
Join us for our summer Coffee and Coworking session on pollinator conservation outreach! We know everyone is busy, so we’re now doing monthly online “co-working” sessions where you and your fellow Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA affiliates can chat, ask questions, or just silently work. This an informal event with no agenda or presentation, just a chance to focus on implementing your Bee City USA or Bee Campus USA commitments. Drop in anytime during this one-hour window. Brew some coffee, grab a snack, and join us!
This meeting will not be recorded.
Laura Rost, National Coordinator of Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA, and Carly Hirschmann, Community Engagement Specialist will be on hand to help.
Register here today!
Photo credit: Bee City USA – Rowlett, TX

National Moth Week
2026-07-19 - 2026-07-25
National Moth Week (NMW) is held annually worldwide during the last full week of July and celebrates the beauty, life cycles, and habitats of moths around the world. Moths are important pollinators, too! Visit nationalmothweek.org to find events and activities near you.

No Yard? No Problem! School and Community Gardens
2026-07-23 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM MT / 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Interested in getting involved in pollinator conservation in your community? You might not have a yard or control of the landscaping where you live, but there are plenty of opportunities to help pollinators in your neighborhood, city, or town. School and community gardens are a great place to establish native plants that support bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. School and community gardens are also a place for people. They provide learning opportunities, green spaces, and natural refuge, where people can connect with and enjoy nature. They are a focal point for community gathering, advocacy, and cultural exchange, and neighborhood pride. In this webinar, join Xerces staff to learn more about community efforts and initiatives to protect and conserve pollinators, the basics of planting pollinator gardens, and see case studies of a variety of community and school pollinator gardens.
This webinar will be recorded and available on the Xerces Society’s YouTube channel. Closed Captioning will be available during this webinar.
Learn more and register here today!

Kelly Gill – Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist, NRCS Partner Biologist, East Region – Xerces Society

Olivia Matise – Mid-Atlantic Pollinator Conservation Specialist, NRCS Partner Biologist – Xerces Society

Stefanie Steele – Pollinator Conservation Specialist, NRCS Partner Biologist, Urban and Small Farms, Michigan – Xerces Society
To request a reasonable accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact outreach@xerces.org.

Bee City USA Coffee and Coworking: Update Your Plant Lists!
2026-07-28 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
11 AM PT / 12 PM MT / 1 PM CT / 2 PM ET
Join us on the last Tuesday of each month for Coffee and Coworking. We know everyone is
busy, so we’re setting aside time where you and your fellow Bee City USA and Bee Campus
USA affiliates can chat, ask questions, or just silently work. Our focus this month is creating (or
updating ) your:

List of recommended native plants
List of recommended native plant suppliers

You are welcome to use Xerces Society’s regionally-specific lists: Native Plants for Pollinators
and Beneficial Insects, or another organizations’ recommendations. Xerces also has a
searchable Native Plant, Seed and Services Directory you may find helpful for locating nearby
native plant suppliers.
Once you have your lists, please add them on your:

“Profile” tab when you login to beecityusa.org, and
Municipality/campus’s own BCUSA webpage.

This meeting will not be recorded.
Laura Rost, National Coordinator of Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA, Carly Hirschmann, Community Engagement Specialist, and Matthew Shepherd, Director of Outreach and Education, will be on hand to help.
This an informal event with no agenda or presentation, just a chance to focus on implementing
your Bee City USA or Bee Campus USA commitments. Drop in anytime during this one-hour
window. Brew some coffee, grab a snack, and join us!
Register here today!
Photo credit: Bee Campus USA – Clark College, WA

Bee City USA Coffee and Coworking: Signage
2026-08-25 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
11 AM PT / 12 PM MT / 1 PM CT / 2 PM ET
Join us on the last Tuesday of each month for Coffee and Coworking. We know everyone is
busy, so we’re setting aside time where you and your fellow Bee City USA and Bee Campus
USA affiliates can chat, ask questions, or just silently work.
Our focus in August is Bee City/Campus street signs and habitat/interpretive signs. You could
use this time to prepare your design files for printing, inquire about your city/campus’s preferred
vendors for printing, get printing estimates, or sketch out a new interpretive sign.
Here’s some background to help you make your Bee City or Bee Campus signs:
 Bee City USA affiliates are required to post at least one street signs in a prominent
location. Bee Campus street signs are optional for Bee Campus USA affiliates.
 Affiliates are responsible for printing their own signs. Street sign and logo files (and
templates thereof) are available by going to: beecityusa.org/login > My Profile > Logo.
 We updated our logos and street sign artwork in 2022. If we haven’t already made your
customized street sign or logos you can make them yourself using our templates, or we
can make the files for you. Emails anytime at beecityusa@xerces.org.
 Here are our BCUSA logo use guidelines (PDF).
Other sign ideas:
 We have 3 free-to-print signs shown halfway down this page
 Xerces Society has 6 habitat signs in Spanish and English in our Gift Center, available
for a donation.
 We have a small number of “Pollinator Habitat” signs in Arabic available for free to
affiliates. Email us if you are interested: beecityusa@xerces.org.
 For inspiration, here are examples of affiliate signs and public displays.
This meeting will not be recorded.
Laura Rost, National Coordinator of Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA, Carly Hirschmann, Community Engagement Specialist, and Matthew Shepherd, Director of Outreach and Education, will be on hand to help.
This an informal event with no agenda or presentation, just a chance to focus on implementing
your Bee City USA or Bee Campus USA commitments. Drop in anytime during this one-hour
window. Brew some coffee, grab a snack, and join us!
Register here today!
Photo credit: Hannah Persic (Bee City USA – Snowshoe, WV)Bee City USA Coffee and Coworking: Signage
