Oklahoma Monarch Society Partners with Oklahoma Department of Corrections to Protect Pollinators

January 26, 2026

Oklahoma Monarch Society Executive Director, Katie Hawk (left), and Board President,Rick Sinnett (right), join Warden Scott Tinsley (center) at the future site of a monarch mural at Dick Conner Correctional Facility in Hominy, OK. Photo by Stefanie Leland

BY STEFANIE LELAND

Monarch butterflies and other native pollinators are experiencing steep population declines driven by pesticide and herbicide use, habitat loss, and climate change. To help increase pollinator habitat in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Monarch Society (OMS) is partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC) to launch Pathways for Pollinators & People, an initiative that will engage the incarcerated population in monarch conservation, education and art. 

“Pollinators play a critical role in putting food on our plates and the rapid decline of their populations is an alarming wake-up call,” said Katie Hawk, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Monarch Society. “Through this initiative, we are creating opportunities for government agencies to take the lead in conservation while engaging people in meaningful, hands-on activities.”

During 2026, OMS will work with ODOC to install pollinator gardens, implement educational programs, and spark creativity with monarch-themed murals at four correctional facilities across the state: 

  • Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy, 
  • Mack Alford Correctional Center in Stringtown, 
  • Great Plains Correctional Facility in Hinton, 
  • and Dr. Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Taft.

“This initiative gives incarcerated men the opportunity to contribute positively to their community while supporting environmental conservation,” said Warden Scott Tinsley of Dick Conner Correctional Facility.

Through this partnership, correctional facilities will receive support to:

  • Build high-quality pollinator gardens that provide food and shelter to declining populations of pollinators, as well as milkweed, the host plant for monarch butterflies.
  • Receive educational programs and materials to teach individuals about pollinators and habitat creation through OMS’s Okies for Monarchs program.
  • Install monarch-themed murals designed by Oklahoma artist Rick Sinnett.

“I’ve seen firsthand how bringing native plants into correctional facilities transforms more than just the landscape,” said Amanda Fitzgerald, OMS Community Engagement Manager. “The men take pride in creating habitat, learning new skills, and contributing to something that lives beyond the facility walls. These gardens become places of healing, reflection, and connection. Every time we start a new garden, I see hope take root.”

Site of a future pollinator habitat and mural at Dick Conner Correctional Facility as part of the Pathways for Pollinators and People initiative. Photo by Stefanie Leland


Why This Matters

Pollinators are essential to healthy ecosystem, biodiversity and food systems. By supporting habitat creation and hands-on education within correctional facilities, Pathways for Pollinators & People aims to inspire leadership in conservation across Oklahoma.

Funding and Support

Funding for the initiative is provided by the Kirkpatrick Foundation and the Oklahoma Monarch Society.