I really can’t thank the many educational communities of Massachusetts enough for helping to make this summer the best I’ve ever had with Professor Bugman Entomology Adventures! Our schedule was packed nearly from start to finish with shows and interactive programs, and of course, so many excited young scientists.
On top of all that, we reached a fantastic milestone: EVENT NUMBER 100 FOR 2024!!!
When I first started Professor Bugman back in early 2022, bringing arthropod science to 2,500 kids in a single year was absolutely inconceivable—a wild dream that seemed so far away as I thought about the 40 or 50 kids I would be seeing on my calendar. Now, I'm looking forward to approaching 3,000 bright-eyed entomologists before the year is out, and so many more beyond!
One of my favorite moments this summer was when I first introduced the new lichen-colored Giant Prickly Australian Leaf Insect (Extatosoma tiaratum), watching the children in the audience awkwardly tilt their heads as they struggled to spot these masters of camouflage right in front of them. It’s also great when the kids scream seeing a Giant Whip Scorpion (Mastigoproctus giganteus), only to eagerly lean in close moments later for a pet once they discover these critters are big ol’ softies! Moments like these remind me why I love what I do—seeing kids’ faces light up as they discover the incredible world of arthropods and learn about the amazing and important roles they play on our planet.
Not only has this been a ton of fun all summer long, but this success has allowed me to continue improving our shows with better materials, equipment, and, of course, even cooler bugs to see and learn about! I’ve also been able to work with a partner to begin development of FREE week-long K-5 lesson plans for entomology (keep your eyes peeled for those!). Once complete, these will be posted on our website for any teacher to download and use in their classrooms.
If you haven’t yet booked a show, now’s a great time as we jump off into a new school year. We’re still running our 2024 Elementary School Referral Discount, so reach out to your local teachers and administrators and tell them about our interactive live-animal educational programs! Any schools referred to us by the community will get $75 off their in-school field trip, and you’ll receive the same coupon for your library or private event.
Again, none of this would be possible without all of you who are just as excited as I am to inspire new little entomologists and nature enthusiasts here in Massachusetts. Thank you all for such an incredible summer, and I can’t wait to see what amazing fun the second half of 2024 and beyond brings!
Sincerely,
Bryan "Professor Bugman" Man, M.S., M.Ed. Founder
Professor Bugman Entomology Adventures
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