An un-BEE-lievable first week for the library’s Summer Reading Program

“Raise your hand if you have ever been stung by a bee before,” asked Library Assistant Lisa Daye during the July 4 Tweens & Teens Summer Reading Club afternoon class. One by one hands popped up into the air. “The best thing you can do if a bee is flying near you is to stay calm because bees don’t want to sting you. Once they sting someone they die. So, trust me when I say that they do not want to sting you.”

As a beekeeper for several years, Daye shared her knowledge about collecting honey and being a bee supporter. She brought in a two-tier hive, a couple of beekeeper suits, a honey separator, and several other pieces from her arsenal. The children were encouraged to ask questions and see everything up close. At one point, Daye handed out pieces of wax and slides from the hives.

As busy little pollinators, bees are relied upon to pollinate fruits and vegetables playing a vital role in agriculture around the world. However, the population has drastically declined. Experts attribute various causes to the decline with one of the big ones being pesticides. If a bee collects nectar from contaminated flowers and brings that back to the hive, then the harsh chemicals will wreak havoc on the colony. “When spring comes dandelions are one of the first things available for the bees to eat so don’t spray them. It is very hard on them if they don’t have the dandelions to eat,” Daye told the children.

Over the course of an hour and a half, the group learned about being a beekeeper, rolled beeswax candles, made origami bees, and played a bug chasing game. Children from the ages of three to five on Wednesday and ages six to eight on Tuesday also learned about bees. “They loved it and had so much fun. The little kids loved the samples of honey, and I was surprised that for many of them it was the first time they had tried honey.”

Registration numbers for the annual Summer Reading Program have increased this year. Each week, children learn about a different subject through hands on engagement. The program has five separate age categories that meet up on different days. Roughly 180 children and 30 adults are taking part in the classes that stretch through all of July and into the beginning of August. “The library has been very busy. We love seeing everyone come in,” said Daye.