Children are usually better at finding bugs than adults are.
Adults walk through the yard thinking about schedules, errands, dinner, and whether the laundry ever actually ends. Children crouch down. They notice the beetle on the sidewalk. The ant trail near the porch. The tiny thing moving on a leaf. The bug that looks strange enough to require immediate investigation.
That kind of curiosity is exactly what the Berea College Forestry Outreach Center is inviting families to bring to Family Activity: Bug Safari on Sunday, June 28, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
The event will be held at the Forestry Outreach Center, 2047 Big Hill Road in Berea. It is geared toward elementary-age children, but all are welcome. The idea is simple: slow down, look closely, and let children help lead the search for insects around the lower forest and Center area.
It is not a lecture. It is not a worksheet. It is a one-hour outdoor expedition for small discoveries.
A Safari, Berea Style 🌿
When most people hear the word “safari,” they probably do not picture a child peering under leaves in Berea. But that is part of the charm.
A safari does not have to mean faraway animals and travel plans. Sometimes it can mean walking slowly through a familiar patch of woods and realizing there is more life there than you noticed the first time.
That is what makes Bug Safari such a good fit for families. Children can search the grass, watch movement on bark, look under leaves, and see what tiny creatures are busy in the world around them. The goal is not to cover a lot of ground; the goal is to notice what is already there.
Letting Children Lead 👣
One of the best things about Bug Safari is that it lets children set the pace. Adults often want the destination. Children want the discovery.
They want to know why that leaf has holes in it. They want to know where the ants are going. They want to know whether that beetle is friendly, scary, helpful, or just weird. A child-led walk makes room for those questions.
If the group stops because someone spotted a tiny insect on a stem, that is not a delay. That is the safari.
Slowing down is not the same as wasting time. Sometimes slowing down is how the best parts of the day happen.
The Active Side of Pollinator Week 🦋
Bug Safari also falls on the final day of National Pollinator Week, which runs June 22 through 28, 2026. That timing gives the event a nice sense of purpose.
Earlier in the week, families can learn about caterpillars and pollinators through indoor programs and activities. Bug Safari gives children a chance to take that curiosity outdoors and see what they can find for themselves.
Pollinator Week is often associated with bees and butterflies, but the bigger lesson is about the health of the natural world around us. Insects, plants, birds, soil, water, and forests are connected in ways we do not always see. A child tracking movement in the grass may not be thinking about ecosystems, and that is fine. The learning starts with the hunt. First comes the bug, then comes the question, and finally comes the connection.
Why Bugs Matter 🐜
Bugs are easy to dismiss. Some people think of them as pests. Some people swat first and ask questions later. Some people would prefer not to think about them at all, which is understandable if the bug in question has too many legs and too much confidence.
But insects are part of the living systems around us. They help pollinate plants, break down organic material, and become food for birds and other wildlife. They help forests, fields, gardens, and backyards stay alive.
When children learn to notice insects, they are learning more than bug facts. They are learning that small things matter. They are learning that the world under their feet is active, connected, and worth paying attention to. That is a pretty good lesson for a summer afternoon.
The Forestry Outreach Center Makes It Easier 🏡
The Berea College Forestry Outreach Center is one of those places that helps families get outside without feeling overwhelmed. Not everyone knows where to start with the forest. Not everyone knows which trail is best for kids. Not everyone feels confident identifying plants, insects, or animal tracks.
Programs like Bug Safari give families a friendly entry point. You can meet at the Center, follow the activity, and let the experience unfold without needing to be an expert. For a lot of families, that is the difference between saying, “We should get outside sometime,” and actually doing it.
Screens Down, Eyes Open 👀
Bug Safari also offers something many parents are looking for in the summer: a screen-free hour. Not as a punishment or a lecture, but just as a better offer.
Instead of telling children to stop staring at a screen, this gives them something real to look at. A crawling insect, a moving leaf, a patch of bark, or a tiny creature doing tiny creature things. That kind of attention is good for kids. Honestly, it is good for adults too. Most of us could use more practice looking closely at the world right in front of us.
What to Bring 🎒
Families should plan for a light outdoor activity. Wear shoes that can handle grass, dirt, or trail edges. Bring water and dress for the weather.
Sunscreen and bug spray may be useful, though bug spray feels slightly ironic for a Bug Safari. Ironic or not, late June in Kentucky means the ticks, chiggers, and deer flies do not care about our appreciation for science. Spray the ankles anyway.
Because the walk is expected to stay around the lower forest and Center area, this should be more approachable than a long hike. Still, it is outdoors. The ground may be uneven, the weather may be warm, and Berea mud may make an appearance if the week has been wet. That is all part of the adventure.
A Small Event With a Big Local Value ❤️
Bug Safari is not a giant event, and that is part of its charm. It is an hour in the afternoon, close to home, built around children getting outside and searching for small life in the woods.
Berea needs that kind of programming. Families need simple ways to spend time together, children need room to ask questions, and adults need reminders that curiosity does not have to be expensive or complicated. The Forestry Outreach Center helps make that possible. And when children are invited to lead the way for a little while, they may discover that the world is full of things worth looking for.
Event Details ✅
- Event: Family Activity: Bug Safari
- Date: Sunday, June 28, 2026
- Time: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
- Location: Berea College Forestry Outreach Center, 2047 Big Hill Road, Berea, KY
- Phone: 859-756-3315
- Note: Geared toward elementary-age children, but all are welcome. Held on the final day of National Pollinator Week.
Related Stories 🔗
- Tiny Creatures, Big Role: Forestry Outreach Center Documentary Highlights Caterpillars During Pollinator Week
- Exploring the Pinnacles: A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking the Berea College Forest
About the Author ✍️
Dr. Chad Hembree is the Executive Director of Spotlight Acting School, The Spotlight Playhouse, and Spotlight Performing Arts. Affectionately known to the community as “Mr. Chad,” he is a playwright, director, and performer with a professional background spanning music, theater, and technology. As a contributor and editor for BereaOnline.com, he focuses on highlighting community news, local events, and the vibrant performing arts landscape in Madison County.