June 17 marked the first day of Pollinator week- an internationally recognized week of attention and education about the importance of pollinators, insects that fertilize plants by carrying pollen between them.
According to a press release from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, more than just bees do this natural job. Butterflies, flies, wasps, birds and plain wind help spread pollen between plants.
The most noticed pollinator, however, is bees. With a multitude of species and jobs in their buzzing communities, they are seen all around.
In Cadillac, the Wexford-Missaukee Great Start Collaborative has hosted an educational event about bees for three years. The event features an activity, snack and a presentation from McBain beekeeper, Rachel Potter, who started her own honey, Clam River Honey, business from her backyard.
Family Liaison for the collaborative, Jenny Mickelson, says the event educates kids on a variety of topics related to bees.
“She brings a small hive and talks about the importance of helping bees and how to keep bees safe and what they do for us and then goes into how they develop and grow,” says Mickelson. “She does bring her beekeeping gear and the kids get to try that on as well and she’ll talk about what to do if a bee comes close to you.”
Mickelson says that the event tries to help kids, and parents, understand bees better and know how to keep themselves, and the bees, safe.
“Usually, bees don't want to hurt you and it's more our actions that make them sting us,” Mickelson says.
Mickelson also said the collaborative loves to do events like this one, using local people to teach and inspire the youth in the community.
“It helps spark knowledge and broaden the knowledge that they already have,” she says.
