Bee Palooza 2023 is now over, but we would like to thank all our volunteers and everyone who attended for making it a great success!
2023 Bee Palooza Map of Stations and Activities
Station 1: Welcome Center - Bumble Bee Safari starts here at 1:30 PM, Storytime starts at 2:30 PM. enter the drawing up until 3:30 PM and be present to win prizes at 3:30 PM!
Station 2: Bees Underground - learn about the differences between social and solitary bees, and how most of our native species are solitary bees, nesting in the ground, providing pollination services to many of our native North American plants including: blueberries, sunflowers, and squash!
Station 3: Honey Bees & Beekeeping - honey bees are big business when it comes to crop pollination, and keeping honey bees can be a satisfying hobby; learn more about it at this station.
Station 4: Cavity Nesting Bees - at this station you can learn about mason and leafcutting bees and how to make bee hotels for these species that nest above ground in preexisting holes and hollow stems.
Station 5: Beecome a Pollinator - pretend to be a pollinator with free face-painting and other activities designed especially for the young at heart.
Station 6: Bumble Bees & Petting Zoo - learn about the special lives of bumble bees, our charismatic native social bees, and pet some cute fuzzy bumble bees without fear of being stung - because male bees don't have stingers!
Station 7: Science of Pollination - learn how plants and pollinators depend on one another and how fruits, nuts, and seeds are made; this is also where you can get a free scoop of ice cream!
Station 8: Gardening for Pollinators - this is arguably the most important station of all because here you can learn how best to help pollinators by providing them with blooming plants in the garden all season long!
Station 2: Bees Underground - learn about the differences between social and solitary bees, and how most of our native species are solitary bees, nesting in the ground, providing pollination services to many of our native North American plants including: blueberries, sunflowers, and squash!
Station 3: Honey Bees & Beekeeping - honey bees are big business when it comes to crop pollination, and keeping honey bees can be a satisfying hobby; learn more about it at this station.
Station 4: Cavity Nesting Bees - at this station you can learn about mason and leafcutting bees and how to make bee hotels for these species that nest above ground in preexisting holes and hollow stems.
Station 5: Beecome a Pollinator - pretend to be a pollinator with free face-painting and other activities designed especially for the young at heart.
Station 6: Bumble Bees & Petting Zoo - learn about the special lives of bumble bees, our charismatic native social bees, and pet some cute fuzzy bumble bees without fear of being stung - because male bees don't have stingers!
Station 7: Science of Pollination - learn how plants and pollinators depend on one another and how fruits, nuts, and seeds are made; this is also where you can get a free scoop of ice cream!
Station 8: Gardening for Pollinators - this is arguably the most important station of all because here you can learn how best to help pollinators by providing them with blooming plants in the garden all season long!
More about the Special Events held at the Welcome Center
1:30 PM - Bumble Bee Safari
Meet in the welcome area and a resident bee expert will lead you through the gardens and assist with identifications.
Download iNaturalist or the Bumble Bee Watch app to identify different bumbles and report the species you find to become a Community Scientist. You can bring a camera, but any phone will do. Happy bumbling!
Download iNaturalist or the Bumble Bee Watch app to identify different bumbles and report the species you find to become a Community Scientist. You can bring a camera, but any phone will do. Happy bumbling!
2:30 PM - Storytime with the author of Untying My Wings
Grand Rapids author Olivia C. Means will be joining us to read her book about Rose, a caterpillar, who learns to be brave and untie her wings. There will be books for sale and included in our giveaway!
3:30 PM - Bee Palooza Giveaway!
Enter to win prizes as part of the 2023 Bee Palooza Giveaway! Enter the drawing at the Welcome Center between 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM. Must be present to win.
What is MSU Bee Palooza?
Bee Palooza is a celebration of pollinators and the promotion of pollinator stewardship. Starting in 2012 in celebration of National Pollinator Week, members of the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University organized the first Bee Palooza that included interactive activities for all ages to increase awareness about pollinators and provide attendees with tips on what they can do to help. Visitors from across the region enjoyed stations set up around the garden displaying honey bee and bumble bee colonies, examples of wild Michigan bees, wild bee hotels, plants and gardening practices to support pollinators. This event was held annually from 2012-2019 with a virtual version held in 2020. A reboot of the event was held in August of 2023.
Key definitions:
Pollinators are animals that move pollen between flowers, resulting in seeds, nuts, and fruits. Most bees, some other insects, some birds, and some bats are pollinators.
Pollinator stewardship is when humans play an active part in protecting and providing natural resources that pollinators need - including clean water and food (aka nectar and pollen).
Pollinator stewardship is when humans play an active part in protecting and providing natural resources that pollinators need - including clean water and food (aka nectar and pollen).