The
N.C. Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill will focus on our need for bees this summer during a special exhibit and four-month symposium, which opens this month.
Bee-Hold the Humble Pollinator, the exhibit illustrating the importance of our native bees, runs June 15 through Oct. 3 at the Pegg Exhibit Hall of the Allen Education Center. The symposium, called Saving our Pollinators, will feature 29 events that examine pollinators and their challenges.
As part of the programs, the garden will present some hands-on events for kids, ages 3 to 12, to learn about native bees, birds and butterflies and the role they play in nature and our lives.
"Pollinators are critical to worldwide ecosystem health and human food supplies," according to a press release. "About 80 percent of all flowering plants and one in three bites of food rely on pollinators."
Here's what's scheduled for kids:
Little Sprouts “Buzz-y Bees”
10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday, June 20
Share a morning with your little sprout learning about our busy bees through nature hikes, games, crafts, and stories. For ages 3-5 with accompanying adult; $10 ($8 members)
Fun with Bees! Learning Table
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sunday, June 28
Stop by the native bee table to get a glimpse of NC’s amazing bee diversity. More than 500 species live in our state alone – from bumble bees to green bees, cuckoo bees to squash bees. Learn how native bees benefit our gardens and the environment and how to support them in your yard. Kids and adults will all find things to do and see, including games to play and specimens to examine. Each family will get to make and take home a bee nesting bundle! Free, no registration required.
Little Sprouts “Hooray for Hummingbirds”
10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday, July 18
Share a morning with your little sprout learning about hummingbirds through nature hikes, games, crafts, and stories. For ages 3-5 with accompanying adult; $10 ($8 members)
Little Sprouts “Flower Power”
10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 15
Share a morning with your little sprout learning about flowers through nature hikes, games, crafts, and stories. For ages 3-5 with accompanying adult; $10 ($8 members)
Little Sprouts “Flutter-by Butterfly”
10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 19
Share a morning with your little sprout learning about butterflies through nature hikes, games, crafts, and stories. For ages 3-5 with accompanying adult; $10 ($8 members)
Nature Illustration: Bees, Blossoms, and Butterflies
Bob Palmatier, Artist and Naturalist
1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays, Sept. 26, Oct. 3, 10, 17 (4 sessions)
Kids will learn how to illustrate native butterflies and bees using watercolor, pen and ink, and colored pencil, like professional nature illustrators. Each child will receive an art kit and create two matted illustrations. For ages 8-12; $140 ($125 members)
Monarch Magic
1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3
Monarch butterflies are in the midst of their amazing migration journey to Mexico. Learn about their life cycle, view live specimens, and learn how to tag butterflies to help bring back the monarchs! Each child receives a special plant. For ages 5-10 with accompanying adult; $15 ($13.50 members)
