One day the kids and I were in the backyard playing when we heard a low, loud humming approaching, until I looked up and saw a swarm of bees—not unlike the ones you see on cartoons! Instead of finding a pond to jump and hide in, we scrambled into the house and shut the door. I called our neighbor, who knew a local beekeeper that came and graciously removed the swarm for us.
Warm, late summer days like these can be tinged with the childhood scare of bees—the possibility of a sting around every buzz. Adults always say to stand still... That the bee won't bother you unless you bother it. But I have to admit that I don't [ever] follow that advice myself.
But bees are disappearing! And they are so very important to our planet and to life as we know it. Bees make delicious honey, for sure, but they are also busy pollinating plants that produce oxygen, fruit, homes for other wildlife, and shade all summer long.
To learn more or just to celebrate bees with your kids...
...read Bee & Me by Elle J. McGuiness—one of our favorites—or find another bee-themed book from your local library.
...watch The Bee Movie (starring Jerry Seinfield).
...grab a jar of honey or a flavored honey stick from a vendor at your local farmers market or a local grocery like The Real Food Shoppe in Plainfield, The Hayloft in Brownsburg, or The Beehive in Danville.
...visit the McCloud Honeybee Festival this Saturday, August 24, for a super fun, family-friendly, FREE event! You'll get an up close (and safe) view of a live hive. Activities include a scavenger hunt, nature walks, face-painting, crafts, and local food vendors.
