Pollinator Palooza is coming to Shepherdstown September 7 – 10!

This celebration of the relationship between pollinators, plants, and people kicks off the Habitat Garden and Landscape project of the new Shepherdstown Public Library. The Garden Stewards of the Shepherdstown Public Library, the American Conservation Film Festival and the Potomac Valley Audubon Society are partnering to bring activities and programs for all ages.

The week will be filled with a variety of exciting activities offered throughout the day and evening for children and adults of all ages including, but not limited to:

• Pollinator books for adults and children on display
• Nature backpacks for youth to check out
• Pollinator poems
• Post a Pollinator – take a picture of a pollinator – posted to Library Facebook
• Feature display of Doug Tallamy books
• Paula Tremba’s photos on display and for raffle

Wednesday, September 7:

10:15am – Children/Family Program – Illustrated Bee talk with Mike Austin. Learn about bees and what makes them special with beekeeper and artist Mike Austin. You can draw along too if you want. You will be able to see some of the special equipment beekeepers use.

11:00am – Children’s Program sponsored by PVAS volunteer, Sue Mellott. We are the Gardeners! We’ll read some stories about gardening and then children will get seeds to take home and plant.

12:30pm Pollinator Picnic – Bring a bag lunch and learn about the plans for the Habitat Gardens and Landscape with designer Peggy Bowers. Drinks and dessert provided by the Garden Stewards.

2:00 – 4:00pm – Nature Scavenger Hunt/Citizen Science sponsored by PVAS – learn how to use iNaturalist and Seek apps to identify plants and insects that live near the library. Contribute your data to establish a baseline as we restore the brownfield of the library to habitat for pollinators.

6:30pm – Guided Bird Walk sponsored by PVAS volunteers Nancy & Elliot Kirshbaum – learn to use the Merlin app, binoculars, and spotting scopes as well as the birds that live around the library.

Thursday, September 8

10:15am – Children’s Program sponsored by PVAS – Garden Helpers: Pollinators. We’ll read stories and do crafts about butterflies and bees and then use insect nets to go on a butterfly and bee safari!

2:00 – 4:00pm – Children’s Program – after school – stories, Nature Bingo and ice cream on the patio.

7:00 – 8:00pm – Pollinator Shorts – join us for two short films The Power of Pollinators and Sym-BEE-o-sis and explore the mysteries of pollinators, especially bees. Meet beekeeper Mike Austin and enjoy drinks and dessert provided by the Garden Stewards. This will be held at the Robert C Byrd Center, Shepherd University.

Friday, September 9

7:30 am – Adult Program – Guided Bird Walk with PVAS volunteers Lynne Wiseman and Carol Winckler – learn to use the Merlin app, binoculars, and spotting scopes as well as the birds that live around the library. Meet at Library patio at 7:30am

All Day – Children’s Program – story walk – sponsored by PVAS – Meadowview Street and craft (draw a picture of what you think the library grounds will look like)

10:15am – Children’s Program sponsored by PVAS – Plants Can’t Sit Still. We’ll read stories about the many ways seeds spread. Then we’ll explore a variety of seeds from trees and flowers.

1:00pm – Chalk Talk – draw along with artist Doug Pifer and create a beautiful sidewalk mural featuring bees and butterflies and dragonflies. For all ages. Chalk provided. Learn as you go.

6:00 – 10:00pm – SOLD OUT – Bringing Nature Home at the Frank Center, Shepherd University. Featuring the film Emmy nominated Film My Garden of a Thousand Bees and presentation by author Doug Tallamy, bestselling author of Nature’s Best Hope, Bringing Nature Home, and The Nature of Oaks.

The evening is sponsored by HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and the American Conservation Film Festival.

FREE. Ticket information and reservation (required) – SOLD OUT https://bit.ly/TallamyShepherdstown

Saturday, September 10

9:00am – Family Program – BioBlitz! Bring your phone and learn how to use iNaturalist and Seek to identify plants and insects that live around the library. Contribute your data to the library baseline so we can see the impact of building gardens.

11:00am – Chalk Talk – draw along with artist Doug Pifer and create a beautiful sidewalk mural featuring bees and butterflies and dragonflies. For all ages. Chalk provided. Learn as you go.

10:00am – 4:00pm – Planting – refreshments provided by Garden Stewards. If planting is not possible, seeds and pots – to plant and take home.

10:00am – two short films The Power of Pollinators and Sym-BEE-o-sis and explore the mysteries of pollinators, especially bees.

11:00am – two short films The Power of Pollinators and Sym-BEE-o-sis and explore the mysteries of pollinators, especially bees.

The activities will take place at the new Shepherdstown Public Library (unless otherwise noted).

Please contact PVAS Adult Program Coordinator, Krista Hawley at AdultPrograms@PotomacAudubon.org or contact the Shepherdstown Public Library at 304-876-2783 with any questions you may have.