Celebrate World Bee Day with a Bookmark Contest for Kids

The City of Waterloo and Waterloo Public Library are inviting children ages 7 to 12 to take part in a bookmark design contest inspired by bees, butterflies, and the plants that help them thrive.

The idea is simple: kids create an original bookmark design that celebrates native pollinators and flowers. Along the way, they’ll learn a little more about how these small but important creatures support healthy ecosystems.

It’s a great opportunity for kids to explore their creativity while connecting with the natural world around them—something both the City of Waterloo and Waterloo Public Library are passionate about supporting.

Winning designs will be professionally printed, and each winner will receive copies to share with family and friends.

How to take part

The contest runs from May 20 to June 10, 2026, with two age groups:

• Ages 7 to 9
• Ages 10 to 12

Entry forms can be picked up and dropped of at any Waterloo Public Library location. Completed designs must be dropped off by June 10. Three winners will be selected in each age group.

Bringing pollinators to life at the library

For those looking for inspiration, the library offers even more. At the Eastside Branch, visitors can see pollinators in action at the working beehive located in the Naturespace.

The teaching beehive is part of the WPL’s environmental literacy programming and gives customers a chance to observe how bees live and work up close. Visitors are welcome to check it out during library hours – staff just ask that everyone stays at least five feet back from the hive entrance to keep both people and bees safe.

Along with the beehive, the library supports hands-on learning through things like a Seed Library every spring, pollinator-friendly spaces, helping make environmental education accessible and engaging for all ages.

A small action that makes a difference

The contest is part of Waterloo’s work as a designated Bee City, supporting efforts to protect pollinators and the habitats they depend on. By inviting kids to take part, this initiative helps build awareness in a simple, hands-on way—one drawing, one idea, and one bookmark at a time.