Living in Alaska, I’ve always loved being outside—whether it’s hiking, fishing, or just walking around in nature. One day, I noticed that there weren’t as many bees or butterflies in our yard as there used to be. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but then I started learning how important pollinators are to our environment.

Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds help plants grow by spreading pollen. That might not sound like a big deal, but it actually helps make fruits, vegetables, and flowers grow. Without pollinators, we wouldn’t have a lot of the food we eat—or the beautiful wildflowers we see in the summer.

That’s when I decided to do something.

I started planting more pollinator-friendly plants in our yard. I chose ones that grow well in Alaska, like fireweed, yarrow, wild geranium, and forget-me-nots (which are our state flower!). I also made sure we didn’t use any harmful pesticides, because those can hurt the pollinators we’re trying to help.

After a while, I noticed more bees and butterflies coming back. It felt really good to know I was helping, even in a small way.

What I learned is that even kids and teens can make a difference. You don’t have to be a scientist or an adult to help the environment. You just have to care and take action—one plant at a time.