Family activities

Bug Out During our 2023 Bug Week Events

monarch butterfly on lilacUConn Extension’s 9th annual Bug Week is buzzing from July 24 to July 29 with programs for the entire family.

All ages are welcome to attend and explore the activities and events dedicated to insects and their relatives.  Bug Week programs include the following:

Join UConn Extension faculty, Spring Valley Student Farm staff and students for an interactive “Insect Wonders at the Farm” event on Tuesday, July 25 from 2 to 6 p.m. at 1327 Stafford Rd., Mansfield, CT.

While at the Farm you can play Bug Jeopardy, take a bug tour and learn about beekeeping.  There will be free activities for the entire family.

See displays of live insects from local gardens and participate in bug walks at the Middlesex County Extension Office, 1066 Saybrook Rd., Haddam, CT on Wednesday, July 26 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.  The program will include bug hunts in the Extension gardens, insect identification, and giveaways.  Master Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions All ages are invited to explore the wonderful world of insects at this free event.

Learn about insects and where to look for them by participating in bug walks at the New London County Extension Office,  562 New London Turnpike, Norwich, CT on Thursday, July 27 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.  The program will include displays of live insects from local gardens, insect identification and giveaways.  Master Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions.  Join us at this free event to learn more about the fascinating world of insects.

Join the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and the UConn Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in the Biology/Physics building at UConn Storrs on Thursday, July 27 from noon to 4 p.m. for Parasite Day! Explore the wonderful, under-appreciated world of parasites with displays and activities for all ages. See real museum specimens up close, participate in games and scavenger hunts, enjoy a tour of the Biodiversity Research Collections, and learn ways to keep your pets parasite free from UConn Police Department K9 Officers Tildy and Carson (and their handler Officer O’Reilly). FREE and open to the public!

Visit our website at bugs.uconn.edu to register for events!

We are also holding a Photo Contest.  Learn more at http://bugs.uconn.edu/photo-contest/

UConn Extension offices are located across the state and offer an array of services dedicated to educating and informing the public on innovative technology and scientific improvements.  Bug Week is one example of UConn Extension’s mission in tying research to real life, by addressing insects and some of their relatives.  For more information on Bug Week, please visit our website at www.bugs.uconn.edu, email bugweeek@uconn.edu or call 860-486-9228.

 

Celebrate National Pollinator Week!

This week highlights the crucial role of pollinators in our food supply, crop success and persistence of the plants we admire. Pollinator activity is needed for the reproduction of over 85% of the world’s flowering plants including  over 1,200 crop plants. We can take time to learn more about pollinators and reflect on the need to celebrate and protect them every day.  Most pollinator species are insects and many of them continue to face significant conservation challenges. Reports indicate significant declines in 28% of North American bumble bee species and 19% of U.S. butterflies species are at risk of extinction. So lend them a hand by planting a pollinator garden or creating nesting sites for native bees.  

To learn more about pollinators and how to protect them visit this website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Learn-About-Wildlife/Pollinators-in-Connecticut

For fun family activities for this week you can visit   https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator-week#pw-activities