All events are free and open to the public!
Every Saturday in June
Market on the Square in Urbana
7:00 AM-12:00 PM
Visit our booth at the Urbana Farmer's Market to learn about the status of pollinators in North America and how you can help.
Pollinator Discovery Day
Sunday, June 26
Join us at the newly-opened Pollinatarium in celebrating the final day of National Pollinator Week 2011. The Pollinatarium
is the first free-standing science center devoted to flowering plants
and their pollinators. In addition to the current displays, there will
be games, crafts, a bee hive and pollinator-themed dancing and art. The
day will also feature workshops on insect photography and on becoming a
BeeSpotter.
Meadowbrook Park, Race Street Entrance
10:00 AM -12:00 PM
Discover the interconnected relationships between the native pollinators and plants of central Illinois. Local radio personality and naturalist David Monk will guide participants on a tour of the world of pollination in the restored prairie of Meadowbrook. A great introduction to the *who, what, where, when and why* of pollinators.
Insect Photography Workshop
Meadowbrook Park, Race Street Entrance
12:00-1:00 PM
Learn how to photograph bees and insect pollinators in nature by entomologist and photographer Alex Wild. Especially for naturalists and insect enthusiasts, the presentation will demonstrate camera setup and technique. Photographers of all skill levels are welcome.
Prairie Plants Close-up
U of I Pollinatarium, NE of the corner of Lincoln & Windsor (directions)
2:00-3:00 PM
Ken Robertson, retired botanist from the Illinois Natural History Survey, will give a public lecture of the pollinated native prairie plants of Illinois.
Pollination Imagination
U of I Pollinatarium, NE of the corner of Lincoln & Windsor (directions)
3:00-5:00 PM
An
afternoon of fun activities for the kids including pollinator-themed
cooking-making, honey-tasting, lots of different crafts as well as
face-painting.
Nurturing Native Bees Workshop
U of I Pollinatarium, NE of the corner of Lincoln & Windsor (directions)
5:00-6:00 PM
Learn
about the different types of pollinating bees that visit our gardens
and parks. Workshop will include a lecture on the types of bees found
in Illinois and how to encourage native pollinators through
gardening and nest boxes.
Pollination Celebration!
U of I Pollinatarium, NE of the corner of Lincoln & Windsor (directions)
6:00-8:00 PM
The
evening will feature the work of local artists, including bee-inspired
sculpture, music, dance and delicacies, amongst the exhibits of our new
pollinator discovery center. Expert beekeepers and honey bee biologists
will be on hand during the event to provide information on beekeeping
and the different types of honeys that will be available for
tasting.
Local band The Duke of Uke and His Novelty Orchestra will be making a featured appearance from 6:30-7:00 PM!