Growing Climate Leaders: Pollinators at the DPS Fall Garden Festival

Last week, we had the joy of joining the Denver Public Schools (DPS) Sustainability Team at their Fall Garden Festival—a celebration of school gardens, outdoor learning, and the many ways young people are connecting with nature.

PPAN led interactive workshops with students focused on one of our favorite topics: pollinators! Together, we explored the incredible role all pollinators play in helping our food grow and keeping our ecosystems healthy. Students participated in a game where they had to guess whether different foods were insect- or wind-pollinated—sparking lots of interest and surprise.

Want to play? Is coffee insect pollinated or wind pollinated? See the correct answer at the end of the blog.

Is coffee insect pollinated or wind pollinated?

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• Insect pollinated
• Wind pollinated

Beyond learning, students also brainstormed ways they can take action to support pollinators right in their schoolyards and communities. Ideas included planting more native flowers, reducing pesticide use, adding pollinator-friendly features to school gardens, and spreading the word about why these tiny creatures are so vital to our own human health.

Looking ahead, PPAN is excited to partner with DPS Sustainability on their Seal of Climate Literacy diploma endorsement—an initiative that encourages students to take meaningful local action to protect the environment. We can’t wait to weave pollinator-friendly practices into this program and help students turn knowledge into real-world impact.

We’re grateful to DPS Sustainability for inviting us to be part of such a vibrant event. Seeing students light up with curiosity and excitement reminds us why hands-on, outdoor learning matters so much. It's amazing to see how the next generation is getting ready to lead in protecting people, pollinators, and the planet.

*Correct answer: coffee is insect pollinated! All foods that have flowers to help them produce typically need to be pollinated by an insect.