Discovery 4-H Project Saves Bees: Look for Kids with Cameras at Jefferson County Fair

by | Jul 27, 2018 | General | 0 comments

From left: Ruby Groussman (8), Andre Mackey (10), Ike Banks (13), Evan Mackey (12).

 

The youth photographers in the Discovery 4-H Club photo project will help “Save the Bees” for this year’s fair theme.  The Jefferson County Fair theme is “Bug Up!!” and many of the exhibits throughout the fairgrounds will emphasize an insect theme. The Discovery 4-H students decided to take things a step further.

Last year the club raised money to help cover their photo booth costs.  This year they will take donations for The Honeybee Conservancy, a non-profit 501c3 organization that works to help the bees, while increasing access to organic, sustainable food in underserved communities.
Saving the bees and protecting the environment is a cause all of the club photographers agree is important.Andre Mackey, age 10, says “We wanted to do something to help the honeybees, because they help people by pollinating one-third of the crops we eat in this country. They’re also helpful to animals and the environment. And they have good honey!” His older brother, Evan Mackey, age 12, adds, “Honeybees are good for the environment.  People should not use pesticides and should leave their dandelions in their yard to help the bees to live.  They are important creatures to the world.  Albert Einstein said, “if the bee disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would only have four years left to live.’ So we should really keep them alive.”

The students will operate a photo booth to take photos of babies, kids and adults decked out in bee wings, antennae or in regular clothes.  No donation is necessary, and at least three high print-quality photos will be e-mailed to participants after the fair.

Photographers include: Reice Elsasser, Ike Banks, Evan Mackey, Andre Mackey, Ruby Groussman, and Zeke BanksDanell Swim-Mackey, the 4-H coordinator for the group, says this is only part of this year’s service project.  “Another way that the kids are finding the honeybees relevant is our fundraiser with 4-H Fruit, selling organic peaches, pears, and nectarines from an orchard in Eastern Washington (and all of those crops are entirely dependent on pollinators). 4-H Fruit will hopefully provide the funding for more equipment and cameras for the kids, and a field trip somewhere amazing when we get the kids to agree to a location.”

The Discovery 4-H Photo Project provides twice-monthly meetings to demonstrate photography skills to students 8 to 16 years of age. The project is in its second year and will begin accepting new students in December 2018. The Bug Up photo booth will operate during the Jefferson County Fair August 10-12th. 11am-3pm on Friday, and 1pm-5pm for Saturday and Sunday.

Jim Scarantino

Jim Scarantino

Jim Scarantino was the editor and founder of Port Townsend Free Press. He is happy in his new role as just a contributor writing on topics of concern to him. He spent the first 25 years of his professional life as a trial attorney, then launched an online investigative news website that broke several national stories. He is also the author of three crime novels. He resides in Jefferson County. See our “About” page for more information.

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