You may not give a caterpillar a second thought when you see one, but these remarkable little creatures play an important role in the natural world. This month, Champlain Library is inviting you to take part in three activities that explore the world of these future pollinators.
On Thursday, August 20, at 3 p.m., join us for a family-friendly presentation at Garden Path Homemade Soap with owner Tara MacWhirter. Learn how to find monarch caterpillars, identify milkweed, collect seeds in the fall, and create pollinator-friendly gardens that help the next generation of butterflies to thrive.
Then, on Thursday, August 27, at 6:30 p.m., join the Library and Eco-East at the Creating Centre in Vankleek Hill for a screening of The Extraordinary Caterpillar. This award-winning documentary reveals the hidden lives of caterpillars and other small creatures through stunning close-up photography while showing how simple changes at home can support healthy ecosystems and local biodiversity.
Keep your eyes open for caterpillars, butterflies, bees, and other garden visitors and take part in our Little Green Thumb Photo Contest for Kids. Young gardeners are invited to submit photos of their biggest and smallest plants, as well as any insects or pollinators they discover in their gardens. You never know, a caterpillar you spot today could become your prize-winning photograph tomorrow! Winners will be announced on August 28, with prizes generously donated by the Vankleek Hill Horticultural Society.
Registration is required for both the Garden Path Soap presentation and the film screening. For more information or to register, please visit bc-cl.ca or call the Library at 613-678-2216. Contest photos can be submitted by email to [email protected].
