Pollinators and Kids: Fun Family Activities to Help the Bees This June 🐝🌸

At Crystal Lake Garden Shop, we believe every garden can be a pollinator paradise—and every child can be a pollinator hero! This June, invite the whole family to get outside, get a little dirty, and discover the magical world of bees, butterflies, and other helpful garden guests. Whether you’ve got a big backyard or a sunny balcony, here are some simple, creative activities that spark curiosity and help pollinators thrive.

🌼 1. Plant a Pollinator Patch (It’s Easier Than You Think!)

Kids love digging in the dirt—and pollinators love a patch full of nectar-rich blooms. Choose easy-to-grow flowers like:

• Zinnias (bright, fun, and fast-growing)

• Sunflowers (tall and dramatic)

• Coneflowers and Black-eyed Susans (native favorites)

• Milkweed (a must-have for monarchs)

Let your child pick a few seed packets or starter plants and help them design a “Pollinator Corner” of your garden. Even a small raised bed or large pot will do the trick. Label the plants with painted garden markers or popsicle sticks to create a mini pollinator classroom right at home.

🏨 2. Build a Bee Hotel (Bug-Sized B&B!)

Not all bees live in hives—many are solitary and need safe spaces to rest and nest. A bee hotel is a perfect weekend project. Use simple materials like:

• Hollow bamboo stems

• Bundled twigs

• Drilled wood blocks

• Upcycled tin cans

Stack them tightly in a small wooden frame or container, then hang it in a quiet, sunny spot. Add a sign: “Bee Our Guest!”

We carry bee hotel kits at Crystal Lake, or you can build your own with our selection of natural materials. It’s a great way for kids to learn about the bees’ different habitats and feel pride in giving them a home.

🔍 3. Go on a Pollinator Scavenger Hunt

Transform a regular garden walk into a pollinator treasure hunt! Give each child a checklist or bingo card that includes:

• A bee collecting pollen

• A butterfly landing on a flower

• A hummingbird in action

• A caterpillar munching a leaf

• A plant buzzing with visitors

Add fun facts and challenges like “find a flower that’s blue” or “spot a pollinator with stripes.” Offer little prizes or stickers for completing their card—and celebrate each pollinator spotted.

We have free printable scavenger cards at the shop—just stop in and ask!

🌸 Come Grow with Us!

June is National Pollinator Month, and it’s the perfect time to connect your family with the wonders of the natural world. Stop by Crystal Lake Garden Shop for kid-friendly pollinator kits, garden tools sized for little hands, bee hotel supplies, and expert tips to help your garden bloom with life.

Together, let’s plant joy, nurture curiosity, and help the pollinators we all depend on. 💛