Beaverton families with elementary-age kids can get hands-on with Oregon's bee world Thursday, Aug. 13, when the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History brings its traveling "BEE Amazed" program to two local library branches.

The 90-minute sessions let children in grades K–5 explore mason bees, cuckoo bees, mining bees, longhorn bees and honey bees through interactive stations and hands-on activities led by a museum educator.

Oregon is home to more than 500 bee species, according to the library's event listing. The Oregon Bee Project puts the count even higher, at 632 or more.

The program stops first at the Murray Scholls Branch, 11200 SW Murray Scholls Pl., Suite 102, at 10:30 a.m., then moves to the Main Library, 12375 SW 5th St., from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Both sessions are free. No registration appears to be required.

BEE Amazed is part of the UO museum's summer outreach effort, which sends educators across Oregon in the museum's outreach van. Last summer, the program delivered 111 sessions at libraries statewide under a different theme.

This year's program ties into the national iREAD summer reading theme, "Plant a Seed, Read," which connects farm-to-table concepts with literacy.

The visit lands in the final week of the Beaverton City Library's own summer reading program for kids, teens and adults, which wraps up Saturday, Aug. 15. The library's summer slate also includes multilingual storytimes in Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Ukrainian and Spanish, plus a Spanish Conversation Club and free citizenship classes.

Families should know the library may photograph or video-record the event for promotional use. Anyone who prefers not to appear on camera can let a staff member know.

Upcoming Beaverton community events

  • Saturday, Aug. 15: Beaverton Music Festival, City Hall Plaza and The Round. Free admission, multiple bands on two stages starting at 1 p.m. Headliner: Precious Byrd. (As we reported Aug. 8, the festival features a 13-act lineup.)
  • Sunday, Aug. 23: Concerts in the Round featuring Baz Moto, 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Beaverton Round, 12600 SW Crescent St. Free and family-friendly.
  • Tuesday, Aug. 25: Fiesta on First Street, 6–8 p.m. in Downtown Beaverton. Live music, local vendors, artisan goods and family activities celebrating Latino culture.