Addison to the Bee: 'Be Safe'

Submitted by szgarvey on August 25th, 2025

Kathy Keatley Garvey

Wendy Mather, co-program manager of the UC Davis-based California Master Beekeeper Program, staffs the microscope table. Six-year-old Addison loved the microscopes and the bees.

When the UC Davis-based California Master Beekeeper Program (CAMBP) interacts with children at various events, they hope to make a difference.

At the Vacaville Museum Guild's annual Children's Party. held recently in the Vacaville Museum on Buck Avenue, Vacaville, they did just that.

We just received a nice note from Tammy Gullett, the guild's former vice president (on leave due to family care). She was unable to attend the event but four of her grandchildren and three of their friends did. She reported:

Six-year-old Addison also got her face painted.

"Four of my grands and three of their friends loved everything about it. Especially the microscope. They have always been afraid of bees. Yesterday while they were swimming, a bee got stranded in the pool and my sweet Addison ran into the house, grabbed a spoon, and gently scooped the bee out. She placed it on a rose. Told it to be safe."

The Children's Party, launched in 1984, includes arts and crafts, games, Mother Goose (Bonnie Moreno) storytime, petting zoo compliments of the Vaca Valley Grange, facepainting, sand art, music by the School of Rock, lunch, and meets-and-greets with Vacaville police, firefighters, Solano County Sheriff's Department, and California Highway Patrol. Pamela King, assisted by Diana McLaughlin, chaired the event, which involves months of planning.

This was the first year that "the bee people" from CAMBP participated, and they did so with a bee observation hive, microscopes, and arts and crafts. Wendy Mather and Kian Nikzad, co-program managers of CAMBP, and CAMBP members Rick Moehrke (he's a retired teacher) and Samantha Murray (she's the education and coordinator of the UC Davis Bee Haven) staffed the tables.

"Be safe," Addison told the bee as she scooped her from the swimming pool and placed her on a rose.

We will remember that.

Bee on a red rose. This isn't the bee that Addison rescued from the swimming pool, but it's a replica. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) — Bee on a red rose. This isn't the bee that Addison rescued from the swimming pool, but it is a replica. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)