There are more than 200 species of native bees in Sydney area, vital for pollination of crops and biodiversity function. I am an environmental educator offering incursions into primary schools to spread the buzz about Aussie Bees.
In the 1.5 hour workshop, kids learn about the bee species that live in their area, each build a bee hotel for solitary native bee species (to take home), get to view a collection of preserved local insects (including bees) under a magnifying light and receive (where available) a free native plants to grow near their bee hotel.
They will learn about the importance of pollination and the role of the introduced honeybee. I also discuss the threats to the honeybee worldwide which amplifies the need to better provide for our Aussie Native Bees.
My delivery of the workshop is via an awesome presentation in which I have sourced the most mind blowing bee images that have kids captivated. As a former art director (magazines, tv adverstising) I make sure it rocks. The presentation also covers the different quirks of the native bees which combined is essential for maximum pollination success.
The beauty of this workshop is that kids feel empowered - they are able to take their beautiful bee hotel home, sharing their new knowledge with family and friends - the result being that kids are educating the community and will make better environmental decisions as adults. The workshop also meets the NSW school curriculum outcomes - detailed in the flyer.
I am launching Kids Connecting Nature this year commencing with the Super Pollinators workshop and aim to roll out other biodiversity workshops as I grow. My second workshop will be "A Hollow Is A Home' - teaching kids about the 303 hollow dependent species in Australia and having the children build nesting boxes for microbats.
I have big plans for Kids Connecting Nature and I hope 'The Super Pollinators' is the beginning of an exciting (and greener) future.
Funded by Sydney (April 2016)