Our Crowdfunding Groups
It is a mobile entomology classroom and exhibit of insects and other arthropods that was developed for educational outreach, extension, community engagement, public awareness, and Entomology & Plant Pathology (ENPL) Department program recruitment and enrichment. The ENTO-ROADSHOW aims to bring education to communities across the state, on their terms, by visiting all 75 counties of Arkansas!
Everyone! The Entomology and Plant Pathology department receives dozens of outreach and extension requests annually from schools, 4H, community events, Master Gardner programs, Master Naturalist programs, summer and outdoor camps, state parks, museums, gardens, event centers and even businesses. The lessons and content available to visitors of the ENTO-ROADSHOW are designed for audiences of all ages and interest levels from bug-nerds to pest-conscious growers.
This trailer is the brainchild of Austin Jones, Ph.D., ENPL Instructor, Director of Undergraduate Education, and Outreach Coordinator. The trailer itself has been three years in the making and up until this point has been 100% funded by startup funds allocated to Dr. Jones and utilizes displays and resources from the ENPL Department. The ENTO-ROADSHOW came about from the need to connect people and programs across the state of Arkansas with resources housed on campus in Fayetteville.
Though we were able to both purchase and build out the ENTO-ROADSHOW trailer using all of its allocated start up funds, we are still in need of eye-catching exterior graphics. Every event the trailer has been to thus far has had participants commenting on the need for signage and images to draw in visitors-- particularly the kids! Nobody knows what the heck it is until they go inside. This is where we would love your help! The design has already been completed for a full vinyl wrap, but we need help making this a reality. Your support today can help make the ENTO-ROADSHOW curb-appeal match the wonders found within!
This donation level honors the 7 largest orders of insects (Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Odonata & Hemiptera).
It takes periodical cicadas in Arkansas 13 years to complete their lifecycle and in some cultures cicadas are a sign of good fortune! Not to mention, 13 is a very lucky number for ENTO-ROADSHOW creator Austin Jones!
There are at least 30 different orders of insects containing multiple millions of species. Some estimates are that ~7,000 new species of insects are discovered each year!
One goal of the ENTO-ROADSHOW is to visit each and every of the 75 counties of Arkansas!
Celebrate the over 500,000 species of beetles by donating one dollar for each 1,000 species! The Eastern Hercules beetle is the largest beetle in North America and can be found right here in the Natural State!
Pollination is one of the most important ecosystem services that insects perform for environmental stability and human nutrition. Donation at this level will definitely make our program bear fruit!
It takes the occurrence of multiple generations of monarch butterflies to reach Canada from overwintering sites in Mexico, but a single "Methuselah Generation" monarch butterfly can travel over 2,500 miles from Canada back to Mexico, outliving and outpacing their northbound ancestors by a long shot. You too can outpace the pack with this level of donation! -- If you give at this level, we will create a small exhibit of your favorite bugs with a sign thanking you!
