Mar 31, 2025
ENPS conducted a member and volunteer survey
The Edmonton Native Plant Society (ENPS) conducted a member and volunteer survey from December 12, 2024, to January 25, 2025. Our goals were to understand:
Who our members and volunteers are
How we can better engage with them
What opportunities interest them most.
Survey Overview
The survey featured 33 questions across seven key topics:
Demographics
Satisfaction (overall and specific)
Communication and engagement
Brand perception
Technology and website.
We sent 466 email invitations, receiving 148 valid responses (31.8% response rate) and 114 full completions (77% completion rate). The margin of error is ± 6.6%, ensuring results are representative. Respondents took an average of 20 minutes and 35 seconds to complete the survey.
Key Findings
Member & Volunteer Demographics
108 respondents were members; 52 were volunteers;
83% of members and 81% of volunteers have been involved for 10 years or less;
52% of respondents are 61 or older, while only 5% are between the ages of 21-30. No respondents were under 21.
Satisfaction & Priorities
86% of respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with ENPS.
The most valued services include the Wildflower News newsletter, social media, advocacy, events, access to native plants and seeds, and our website.
Satisfaction with these services aligns with their importance, indicating effective delivery.
Engagement & Communication
Only 21% of respondents feel highly engaged, while 42% report being only somewhat engaged.
Barriers to engagement include lack of time (33%) and missed opportunities (15%). Very few cited lack of interest or family-friendliness.
Preferred communication methods include written (news articles, emails, reports) and visual (videos, illustrations).
Social media preferences: 50% use Facebook, 32% use YouTube, and 30% use Instagram. Others use Bluesky, Reddit, and Substack.
Members confirmed at our AGM that they receive a manageable number of emails from ENPS and prefer not to receive text messages.
Respondents' reasons for why they are not more engaged with the society.
Perceptions & Opportunities
When asked to describe ENPS in one word, responses were overwhelmingly positive: important, informative, educational, inspiring, committed.
Top strengths identified:
1. Educational resource and knowledge sharing
2. Native plant advocacy and public awareness
3. Expertise in native and local plants
4. Member/volunteer commitment
5. Passion for native plants.
Areas for improvement:
1. Volunteer engagement and opportunities
2. Educational outreach and mentoring
3. Effective communication and notifications
4. Community building and networking.
Public Awareness
Respondents described public sentiment toward native plant protection as mostly uninformed, indifferent, or unaware.
Friends of respondents were generally more positive, describing the respondents’ interest in native plants as supportive, curious, passionate.
Vision for Growth
If resources were unlimited, respondents suggested:
Hosting a festival to make native plants exciting and fun
Establishing a storefront presence in Edmonton
Creating a greenhouse to produce native plants
Planting demonstration gardens in high-visibility areas (e.g., Churchill Square, Legislature Grounds, University of Alberta).
Developing beginner-friendly planting guides
Increasing marketing, outreach, and presence at non-gardening events
Integrating native plant education into school curricula
Partnering with municipalities to plant in road ditches and rights-of-way to support pollinators.
Moving Forward
ENPS is valued for its expertise and impact, but many members and volunteers don’t feel recognized.
There is strong demand for more engagement opportunities.
Communication must be direct, relevant, and timely to be most effective.
Members are eager to help—particularly with seed collection, cleaning, and native plant propagation.
These insights will help us shape future initiatives and strengthen our connection with the community. Thank you to everyone who participated!