FHDC Release

Bee a part of the buzz! Join the Flint Hills Discovery Center (FHDC) for Pollinator Palooza on Saturday, August 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to celebrate nature’s unsung heroes that keep our world in bloom!

This exciting event is a collaboration between the FHDC and passionate partners dedicated to raising awareness about the vital pollinators in our ecosystem. This is sure to be a day filled with fun, education, discovery, and appreciation for pollinators. All activities are included with admission and perfect for all ages.

The temporary exhibit, Amazing Butterflies, is the perfect introduction to the amazing world of pollinators. After guests make their way through the maze, they can participate in these fun activities with our educators:

• Pollinator Parkour – Hop from one safe pollinator habitat to the next!
• Pollen Pursuit – Pollination is vital to the life cycle of all flowering plants. Successful pollination results in healthy fruit and fertile seeds, which allows plants to reproduce. Pollinators are the ones who do the grunt work of moving pollen grains from flower to flower.
• Beautiful Pollinators – Enjoy brightening up our prairie while coloring pollinator coloring pages.

Community partners activities:

• Sunset Zoo: Migration Mayhem – Monarch butterflies face many challenges as they make their 2000-mile migration from Canada to Mexico. Will participants be able to dodge predators, ride the warm winds, and find enough food as they make their journey? Sometimes, survival is a game of chance!
• MHK Pollinator Pockets: Learn more about the city’s Pollinator Pockets and how to create your own.
• Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation: Get information on pollinator conservation, endangered species conservation, and reducing pesticide use and impacts.
• Riley County Extension Master Gardeners: Make origami butterflies, get a butterfly tattoo on your hand, and learn more about the Riley County Extension Master Gardener organization and activities.
• Grassland Groupies: Prairie Garden Trail Tours and Bug Hike with FHDC staff at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., plus information on native gardening and a bee senses activity.
• Jack Sytsma, FHDC volunteer and doctoral student: Ongoing flowering plants presentation from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Learn more about Pollinator Palooza at www.flinthillsdiscovery.org/pollinators.