Staff photo by Fritz Busch Brown County Historical Society (BCHS) summer day campers, from left, Ellan Moldan, Radley Schoen and Annabelle Taralson plus volunteer Joe Gartner use homemade binoculars to search for pollinators and other flora and fauna Wednesday at the Pollinator Park in New Ulm.

NEW ULM — Kindergarten through fifth-grade students in the Brown County Historical Society’s summer day camp got up close and personal with nature Wednesday at the New Ulm Pollinator Park.

Activities included a bug and scavenger hunt, making milkweed seed bombs and learning about Monarch butterfly life cycles. Seed bombs are quarter-sized balls made of clay, compost and seeds, used to casually plant milkweed and other native plants.

Campers found out what pollinators are, why they are so important, and why are they declining, said pollinator park volunteer Deb Lindstrom Steinberg.

Each camper hiked around the park completing a scavenger hunt to identify insects and flowers. They observed the life cycle of the monarch butterfly from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis and finally, a butterfly.

They made milkweed seed balls and each camper took them home along with a monarch caterpillar or chrysalis which they will be able to observe and eventually release their own monarch butterfly. Campers learned that only 1-5% of the caterpillars survive to become a butterfly in the wild.

Summer day camps beginning June 6 through Aug. 19 feature a themed program with related activities each week. Camps provide an alternative for children that attend school and are looking for summer options.

The BCHS believes it can help address the day care shortage by providing an alternative day care with a summer camp.

Participants experience outings, games, crafts, learn heritage chores and meet special guest stars.

If there is demand, day camps will be extended through Aug. 25.

A pollinator is a bee, butterfly, bird or other living thing that gathers pollen from flowers to obtain nectar and/or pollen for food. Pollination takes place in the process.

Many bee, butterfly and bird numbers are in decline. Much of the decline is attributed to the disappearance of native plant habitat.

In 1908, Minnesota had 18 million acres of prairie. Today, only a little more than 1 percent of native prairie remains.

Habitat loss may include change of land use, urbanization, invasive species, climate change, pesticide use and disease.

Gardening and agricultural productivity is directly dependent on pollinators, especially bees, for producing more than one-third of our food.

Without pollinators providing pollen, many plants, including many species which are food sources for animals and humans, cannot set seed and reproduce. Consequently, many species face existential threats for survival. Mass plant species extinction will present serious economic implications for humans and for native ecosystem diversity and stability.

The good news is even small actions by people can help. Even a small, backyard space, window box or a few potted pollinator plants can make a difference. Better yet, replace a patch of manicured grass with a native garden.

The New Ulm Pollinator Park includes gardens, woodland and prairie used for pollinators. The New Ulm bicycle trail is nearby, and three walking trails begin in the park.

For more information, call 507-233-2621 or email education@browncountyhistorymn.org.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.)