Science

School of Ants

• Adventure
• Ingenious
• Fascinating

What is the School of Ants?

The School of Ants project is a citizen-scientist driven study of the ants that live in urban areas, particularly around homes and schools. With the help of thousands of people across North America we are mapping the native and introduced species that live right in our backyards! As more ants populate the map, we are discovering species that are new to science as well as documenting known species in places they have never been recorded previously. Using these new records we are able to examine how changes in our landscape, such as urbanization and a changing climate, are affecting other communities such as the ants that share our gardens, sidewalks and parks.

What will donations support?

If we can raise $6000, around 300 additional schools will be able to participate in the School of Ants! Because they are budget-limited, these classrooms would not be able to purchase the materials for make-your-own kits.  We will use the funds we raise to buy the kit materials (vials, cookies, bags, printed instructions) and send them by mail to the teachers who have contacted us about bringing this activity into their science classroom.If we surpass our goal we'll be able to include even more people!

Who can participate? Participation in the School of Ants is open to anyone interested in contributing. Teachers, students, parents, kids, junior-scientists, senior citizens and enthusiasts of all stripes are invited to collect ants in schoolyards and backyards using a standardized protocol so that we can make detailed maps of the wildlife that lives just outside our doorsteps.

How do I participate?

1)      Make My Own Kit!  Anyone can participate with the only cost being the price of index cards, cookies, zip-lock bags and postage for mailing in your kit! Just go to our website, www.schoolofants.org and Get Started by clicking on the button that says Make My Own Kit!

OR…

2)      Request kits. We know that even minimal costs are a hardship for some teachers and schools. Because of this we send pre-made kits to schools that would otherwise be unable to participate. Your support will fund the materials we need to make 2000 School of Ants kits and send them to participating schools this spring. Kits include 8 collection vials (4 for a green space, 4 for a paved area), each pre-filled with bait (cookie crumbles), as well as a card with instructions for how to sample ants, record data and submit your sample by mail.

What happens to ant samples after they are sent in?

Citizen scientist ant collectors do more than just collect the ants; they record the location and habitat where they found the ants, as well as the date, time and weather. These important field notes are entered into our online database and each collection is assigned a code number. When the ants arrive to the School of Ants team, we use the code number to associate the ants with the data online. Then we:

1)      Sort the ants into different species

2)      Prepare the ants to be part of the NCSU Entomology collection by putting them on insect pins and labeling them

3)      Identify each ant species

4)      Enter the species and the collection data into the Ant Map

How do I find my ants?
Once your ants are up, you can just type your address into the search bar on the map and you’ll see a list of species that you collected! Each ant name will be linked to a page that tells you about that species – where it is found, whether it is native or introduced in your area, and all about what that ant does for a living.

Gifts of Appreciation:

up to $24 – All of our appreciation!

$25 – Thank you note from the School of Ants, plus a sticker

$50 – Young Explorers’ Kit: School of Ants collecting kit, magnifying glass, collecting forceps and sticker

$100 – Your choice of the rewards listed above, plus a hand-drawn ant notecard

$250 – Your choice of the rewards listed above, plus a framed print of the SOA map with your house/ants featured

$500 – Your choice of the rewards listed above, plus acknowledgement in a scientific publication for your generous contribution

$1000 –  Your choice of the rewards listed above, plus an exclusive video-chat about research in progress with the School of Ants scientists

$2500 – A private tour of the ants of your own backyard or school with a visiting scientist from the School of Ants (continental US only!)