Holderness, NH - Bees and other pollinators play instrumental roles in providing food for the dinner table. Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is hosting Pollinator Party to teach about pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and caterpillars - creatures that help to ensure full harvests and a healthy ecosystem.

Pollinator Party is scheduled for Tuesday, July 11, at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness. Visitors will be able to take part in many activities including learning about native bees and their houses at Kirkwood Gardens, speak with local beekeepers about raising live honey bees, and enjoy music by the NH Music Festival featuring the "Three Bs" - Braham, Beethoven, and Bach.

Lucy Golden, a local artisan, will demonstrate how she makes jewelry that is inspired by her special interests in pollinators, such as butterflies and birds. She incorporates local and exotic flora and fauna, and copper electroforms hatched cocoons to use in her jewelry. Lucy is a juried member of the New Hampshire League of Craftsmen, and works from a studio located up in Franconia Notch. Her jewelry will be for sale also.

Visitors will be able to make a Wildflower Seed bomb and use it to plant a pollinator garden at home. Pollinator Party activities above are included in regular trail admission fees. The Science Center is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last trail admission at 3:30 p.m.

Pollinator Party will also feature two special experiences with The Caterpillar Lab for an additional fee. The Caterpillar Lab features a diverse collection of native New England caterpillar species. Educators from The Caterpillar Lab (http://www.thecaterpillarlab.org/) will travel to Holderness from their home base in Keene. The Caterpillar Lab will teach about metamorphosis and tell incredible but true stories about these creatures' strange and surprising adaptations. These adaptations include warning coloration, inflatable horns, strange smells, and squeaking mandibles. Some caterpillars may be camouflaged to look like twigs or snakes. Some may have stinging spines or brightly colored baubles. Some may be as big as hot dogs! Participants will be sure to see something new! This drop-in program, open from 10 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., is well-suited for the curious family and seasoned naturalist alike.

The Caterpillar Lab will allow families to get up close to displays of live caterpillars on branches of their native New England food plants. Integrated into the program is a multidisciplinary approach to education using technology, art, anthropology, and history. Caterpillar Lab staff will lead hands-on experiences and mini programs examining cocoons, parasitoids, caterpillar defenses, and many other aspects of caterpillar natural history as well. The program will also explore metamorphosis and biodiversity. Participants can expect to see native caterpillars that are larger, hairier, trickier, cuter, and more fascinating than ever before! Fees for The Caterpillar Lab program are $5/member or $18/member family or $7/non-member or $25 non-member family. Reservations are suggested and may be made by calling 603-968-7194 x 7 but families may sign up on the day of Pollinator Party.

Additionally, visitors may register to join Sam Jaffe, founder of The Caterpillar Lab, for a Caterpillar Walk and Talk from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. The fee is $10/member or $12 non-member. The walk will take place in Kirkwood Gardens and will focus on finding and identifying wild caterpillars and butterflies. Reservations are suggested because space is limited to 15 participants. Reservations may be made by calling 603-968-7194 x 7.


Posted 6/10/17