Bugs get to work!

Bobcat and Blue Jay are working on collecting a lady beetle!

We all have jobs to do. Whether working on our grass heads last ‘haircuts’ before going home.  Or working on an entry in our nature notebook. Deer worked hard to tape leaves into her journal. Hawk added to his amazing ant colony picture. Leopard Frog drew many tadpoles. Some jobs are fun and some are not so fun but it all needs to get done.

Outside the Hall, the Turtles turned into seeds, sprouts, seedlings and flowers as they went in search of enough sun, water, soil and air.  Did you find enough of everything in our game to survive as a plant?  Some of us had lots of water, some had lots of sun.  Think about what you collected.  What kind of plant were you and where do you think you would survive the best?  

Off to the trails, Cedar Hideaway and Mystery Forest to reconnect with the plants and to see how they are growing.  Did you see anything new growing from last week?  Plants aren’t the only things working hard.  Bugs were everywhere, more in some spots than in others, gnawing holes through pine cones and hiding under rotten logs.  What bugs did you find the most of?  Were there some areas that had more than others? 

Our two stories, Some Bugs and Bothered by Bugs were stuffed with lots of rhymes and ways bugs stay busy.  Time to brainstorm what they do…pollinators, decomposers, get rid of predator bugs, food for birds.  They even keep our forests clean and healthy by breaking down things like poop, returning nutrients to the ground.  Stinky but true!

At the library, Grey Squirrel read the book Plant A Seed And Watch It Grow, a story about a boy planting a seed and looking after it in his garden.  Thanks Grey Squirrel for giving us the opportunity to plant our own special flower for our moms. She also gave us bubble wrap, paint and construction paper to help us create something special for our moms.

Bugs are a big part of a plant’s life and deserve a little gratitude, even though they can be a nuisance like the midges flying around our heads at the Hall. Even they have an important job as they are food for the birds. Just like the plants and like us, they need tender loving care so they can continue to do important work.  Next time you want to squash an annoying bug, try to remember one helpful thing they do for our growing environment. Some of our beautiful flowers wouldn’t be here without them!