Gardening for Pollinators: Bugs in the Garden with a Master Gardener (Ages 10+)

What’s buzzing in your garden? Which insects are helping your plants thrive, and which ones might be causing trouble? Join Clemson Extension Master Gardener Lisa Turocy for a special class designed for homeschoolers ages 10+ interested in entomology, gardening, and being good stewards of their environment.

In this hands-on class, we’ll dive into the fascinating world of garden insects—both the beneficial and the not-so-beneficial. You’ll learn about the vital role pollinators play in supporting healthy gardens, and discover how we can protect these important creatures. We’ll also explore the “bad bugs”—pests that can harm plants—and discuss strategies for managing them without harming our valuable pollinators.

Living in the Lowcountry means we have an abundance of insects in our gardens, so it’s essential for gardeners to understand which bugs are helping and which ones need attention. After the class, we’ll take a walk through the garden to see if we can spot any of the insects we’ve talked about.

Please bring pencils and paper if you’d like to take notes. Whether you’re a budding entomologist or a gardener in training, this class will inspire you to become a more informed and responsible steward of your environment!

While we love our gardening friends of all ages, this class is best suited for children ages 10 and up, but may be adapted for participants as young as 8. We kindly ask unregistered children do not attend.

A minimum of 5 registrants is required for this program to run. A caregiver must be present.