Insect Diversity Important for us!
Willow Park Ecology Centre Interactive Education!
Students practiced saying “Thank you bee, for making me fruits and vegetables” after taking a deep breath upon seeing a bee. “I didn’t know, I squish them. Now I won’t, I’ll let them be”, one reflected. On Education Day at the Acton Fall Fair students and chaperones learned the importance of insect biodiversity and pollinators in our lives while engaged in bug rock painting.
Tunde Otto, E. D. and Instructor for Willow Park Ecology Centre shows the interconnected friendship of bees, flowers and us!.
With a flower and miniature crocheted bee in hand she told her animated story to highlight our dependence on nature for food, water and air.
The story shows that flowers have nectar food used to make honey for the bee’s babies and bees help flowers be able to make babies (seeds) by bringing the pollen to the important flower part that houses the eggs (ovules). The children say the story's key words as the magic unfolds to help develop language and understanding.
It ended with a friendly discussion about the fact that bees only sting if they are feeling danger, so we can chose to make sure they feel safe. Ms Otto’s story emphasized that,
“if we let them be, then they can focus on their only goal, to get food back to their families, just like your parents”.
One young student shared his reflection: “I didn’t know that, I always squish them, now I won’t. I’ll let them bee”.
Thanks Bee!
The students practiced, taking a deep breath upon seeing a bee and saying “thank you bee, for making me fruits and vegetables!”
A student stated: “so not just annoying but important!”
The importance of insects becomes more obvious when we think of the many birds and animals that depend on bug food. And how we depend on some of them for our food!
This Sept. 18th at the Acton Fair Grounds WPEC also displayed visual examples of beetles, ants and water bugs to learn from, and some conversations allowed for exploring what eats insects. Even “tick talks” were sparked by a photo and guide displayed to encourage outdoor safety, no matter what might be out and about. One chaperone asked about wasps as she struggled to become inspired about considering gratitude and joy for the buzzing pollinators around her home. The message was plain and simple, “all insects that sting do it to protect themselves not because they are out to get us”.
To explore more and support your good health and wellness visit the unique nature park during the Culture Days Free events this fall.
Culture Days Free Events, fall 2026:
Butterflies and Pollinators.. our food supply on Thu., Sept. 24 (4-6pm) and Sunday, Sept. 27 (2-3:30pm) and Getting Ready for Bird Day on Thu., Oct 1 (4-6pm) and Sunday Oct 4 (2-3:30pm).
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