Australia hosts about 2000 amazing native bee species, vital for the pollination of plants and ecosystem health.
This dynamic workshop aims to create informed and passionate bee enthusiasts via an engaging presentation and hands-on learning experience.
THE SUPER POLLINATORS INCURSION
The Super Pollinators Incursion is a rich hands on learning experience designed to ignite interest and proactive conservation for Australian bees. This incursion makes a fabulous support for understanding pollination processes, paddock-to-plate themes, sustainability and lifecycles. The Incursion is comprised of a presentation for the entire student cohort followed by a building workshop conducted in class groups:
PRESENTATION
Featuring vibrant imagery and fun activities, this awe-inspiring presentation stimulates curiosity and reinforces essential environmental themes appropriate for each stage such as:
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Bee diversity, needs, behaviour and life cycles
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The importance and process of pollination
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Local species and ecosystems
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Agricultural productivity and human well-being
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Threats to bees and pollination services
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Plan Bee – Bees for sustainability and biodiversity
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Bee Aware – Creating habitat for local bee species
Allow 30-45 minutes depending on stage & curiosity (Q&A session).
WORKSHOP
Make an insect hotel for local native bee species! A timber insect hotel is supplied as a 5-piece kit for group assembly using simple tools and instruction provided. Each hotel requires 10 nails, and insertion of bamboo. The hotel can be decorated post workshop. The workshop includes viewing of our amazing invertebrate collection, models and information display.
Allow about 1 hour depending on stage and numbers per workshop.
WHY BUILD A BEE HOTEL?
NSW NESA SYLLABUS LINKS
GEOGRAPHY
FEATURES OF PLACES (GE1-1,2)
PLACES ARE SIMILAR AND DIFFERENT (GE2 – 1,2,3)
THE EARTH’S ENVIRONMENT (GE2 – 1,2,3)
FACTORS THAT SHAPE PLACES (GE3 – 1,2,3)
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
LIVING WORLD (ST1-3 | 4LW-S, ST2 & 3 5LW-T)
SKILLS (ST1-3 | 1WS-S)
MATERIAL WORLD (ST3-7MW-T)
Download Scientific Rationale for bee conservation
THE SUPER POLLINATORS – INFORMATION SHEETS
Instructions to make your own insect hotel from our kit
The Basic Buzz – A book about bees for teachers and students
Instructions to make your own insect hotel from scratch
Who is in my bee hotel? ID your guests
Bee in the know – instructions to install your insect hotel
Pollinator Survey – Pollinators in the school yard
Make your own mud brick for blue-banded bees
The Super Pollinators – Super Puzzles
INCURSION PRICES
Team Buzzy
- Presentation for all students
- 1 insect hotel per 5 students (to keep!)
- Display including models and over 200 preserved invertebrates
- * Minimum $480 ($13 pp above 37 students)
- Maximum 5 workshops per day (workshop size dependent on age)
- Travel costs may apply
VIRTUAL PACK
Virtual Buzzy
- 1 hour live virtual presentation for all (incl. Q&A)
- 5 insect hotel kits delivered to your school to assemble post workshop (just byo hammer!)
MADE A HOTEL? WHAT NEXT?
Paint it
Paint your hotel in non toxic (child friendly) floral coloured paint! Finish with eco-friendly lacquer – supplied to school workshops.
Watch It
Do not stand in the flight path of your bee guests – observe from the side
Most solitary bees have an annual cycle. Females’ lays eggs over summer then die. The young over-winter in the nest & hatch in spring – it may take several cycles for them to find your hotel. Other insects may like it too – it’s good habitat!
Many solitary bee species can sting you, however they are not aggressive and it is very rare for them to do so
Place It
Secure your B & B 1-2 m above ground where it receives morning sun, afternoon shade & minimal weather exposure. It can be undercover on a veranda, on a fence post or under a tree!
Report It
Monitor & report insect activity on the Questagame or iNaturalist app to build our knowledge about bee behaviour and distribution – it uploads to the Atlas of Living Australia.
Participate in bee surveys such as Pollinator Week.
Inspire others – Talk it up – add a story about your Super Pollinators project to our Facebook page.
Get Planting
Feed your bees! Flowers in different colours & shapes – exotics & local natives – something in flower all the time!
Ask your local community or council nursery about local plants for local fauna – very important to maintain plant host relationships for pollinators!
Download ‘Bee Friendly’ (resources and links page) for bee attracting plants
The closer your hotel to flowers, the less flight time required to collect pollen & nectar for the brood & the more eggs can be laid! More bees!
Leave some bare earth & dead wood for nesting.
Chemicals and pesticides can kill bees – BEE friendly!
Repeat
Once the young emerge they will not reuse that cavity, so replace the content with bamboo, curled bark, pithy stems or drilled rounds for new uptake.
Different species seek different size holes – provide a range of 2-9 mm holes.
Make another hotel – salvaged untreated recycled hardwood is ideal. Build a box or reclaim a small drawer – get creative!
