Caterpillar Corner is a new free children’s activity and colouring book that provides interesting information about butterflies in Saugeen Shores. The book was created by the Butterfly Gardens of Saugeen Shores (BGOSS) in partnership with Bruce Power. Pictured Melitta Smole (left) and Barb Willner holding Caterpillar Corner at the BGOSS Nature Library in Southampton along the Captain Spence Path, July 10.

Hub Staff

Organizers behind the Butterfly Gardens of Saugeen Shores (BGOSS) have put fluttering into colouring with a new children's book called Caterpillar Corner. The colouring and activity book, authored by Barb Willner, Melitta Smole and Kerry Jarvis, includes plant and butterfly information as well as short activities that can take place at the various butterfly gardens in Saugeen Shores.

With support from Bruce Power and their graphic designer Stacey Hill, the butterfly enthusiasts have produced 3,000 free copies that will be available at the newly established nature library north of the Big Flag in Southampton as well as at the Saugeen First Nation and Saugeen Shores libraries, Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre, MacGregor Point Provincial Park and both the Town and Chamber office in Saugeen Shores.

Over the years BGOSS has planted 4,000 plants that feed and help sustain butterfly numbers in Saugeen Shores, they have conducted tagging days prior to the Monarchs heading south on their migration to Mexico and they have provided knowledge about native plants and pollinators, said Kerry Jarvis at the Nature Library July 10.

Caterpillar Corner is suitable for ages 5 to 12, is 24 pages and Jarvis said it is a story about two Monarch butterflies Avery and Fernando. “The concept is about the story that they emerged here in Saugeen Shores and then they grow and visit all the various pods that we have here and they journey throughout Saugeen Shores and they turn into beautiful butterflies and then eventually they make their way to Mexico,” said Jarvis.

Barb Willner of BGOSS said the illustrations in the book are “absolutely gorgeous” and that the book encourages readers to travel to each pod in Saugeen Shores. “There are little activities that correspond with the pods around Saugeen Shores from Fairy Lake to Perkins Park,” she said.

BGOSS will soon have activities from the book available to download online as well as a corresponding song “Come Fly With Me” which the trio performed July 10 with Melitta Smole on lead vocals and acoustic guitar.

Local information of various butterfly pods is included in Caterpillar Corner with the hopes of inspiring children to get outside and explore nature.

Caterpillar corner is also informative and teaches children various information about plants essential to butterfly needs.

From left, Kerry Jarvis, Melitta Smole and Barb Willner performed “Come Fly With Me,” a song written by BGOSS to accompany their new children’s colouring and activity book, Caterpillar Corner.