The National Summer Reading Challenge encourages children to read 12 hours per week over summer break. Studies indicate summer reading habits benefit cognitive development, improve language skill, increase concentration, improves imagination and creativity and offsets summer slide. During the weeklong ‘Big Bodacious Bugs’ program, Nature Coast Master Gardeners (NCMGs) shared insect facts and encouraged people to look for books that satisfied their natural curiosity about insects.
NCMGs, armed with skill and expertise rounded up preserved, laminated and real insects to create an age-appropriate insect curriculum. We provided an exciting and up-close look at amazing insects. Children and adults were encouraged to examine a dozen preserved insects for leg characteristics, antennae segments, wing veins and mouth parts. After an eye opening experience with a monarch caterpillar a six-year-old boy said, “I learned caterpillars can poop!”
NCMGs have partnered with Levy County Board of County Commissioners, Levy Soil and Water Conservation District and Levy Public Library System in support of the National Summer Reading Challenge, since 2014. In addition to participants, NCMGs benefit from this extension program. One shared how much she enjoyed working with children in the library setting. It was a new and positive experience for her. Another member shared “one of the great things about being a Master Gardener…we learn constantly.”
NCMGs engaged children and adults with activities to focus on insects, their life cycle and importance to humanity. As a result, an adult stated she learned the importance of plants to put in her yard to attract pollinating insects and was particularly excited about attracting butterflies. Adult participants asked where to purchase the insect etching activity (UF/IFAS Bookstore). A nine-year-old boy stated, “I made an orange and blue ant because I am a gator fan who likes basketball the best.”
Next year’s topic is to be determined. We will beef up vocabulary and have participants relate new vocabulary to real-life. One woman, intending for her child to say thank you, prompted her daughter with, “what do you say?” but ended up with the child saying, “proboscis.” For us, that is a success story!
Contact Barbara, 352-486-5131, email savemygarden@ufl.edu, with horticulture questions or the master gardener class schedule. Until next time — Happy Gardening!
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