When we kicked off Pollinator Week 2026 under the theme “Pollinators Weave Connections,” we wanted to step away from the slideshows and take people out where the magic actually happens. Over seven action-packed days, our team connected with over 169 students, hit the forest trails, painted a few dozen smiling faces, and paid tribute to a true conservation legend.
Here is what went down during our seven-day journey across Dharan.
Hitting the Trails: Butterfly Hikes & Field Days
We didn’t just talk about biodiversity; we went out looking for it.
Day 1 (Bishnupaduka Trail): We kicked off the week by lacing up our boots for a self-guided hike starting from Mangalbare. Armed with field guides, small groups of students logged sightings of species like the Punchinello, Common Jester, and Indian Fritillary while observing natural behaviors like mud-puddling and nectar foraging in the dense forest.
Day 5 (Ideal English Boarding School): We headed out with 21 Grade 10 students for a field-based observation session. The students picked up diagnostic identification skills, learning how to log occurrence data and spot taxonomic markers right in the field.
Day 6 (Danabari Trail): Moving from Bijayapur toward Danabari, we explored lush canopy corridors and open, sunlit clearings. Participants spotted an incredible array of species, including the Popinjay, Common Tiger, Plain Tiger, Chocolate Pansy, Indian Tortoiseshell, and Indian Red Admiral.
Classroom Energy: Reaching the Next Generation
A huge highlight of the week was bringing pollinator ecology into local classrooms. Across four schools, we reached 169 middle and high school students with hands-on, high-energy sessions.
| Date | Location | Target Audience | Key Highlights |
| June 23 (Day 2) | Merryland English Boarding School | 65 Students (Grades 8–10) | Interactive presentation on food security, bee & butterfly face painting, and a creative coloring contest. |
| June 24 (Day 3) | Araniko Memorial Boarding School | 47 Students (Grades 8–10) | Deep dives into pollinator threats, face painting featuring native floral designs, and awards for top artwork. |
| June 25 (Day 4) | Panchayat Secondary School | 36 Students (Grades 8–10) | Group discussions on ecosystem roles, vibrant face painting, and a collaborative environment art showcase. |
Day 7: A Candlelight Tribute to “Putali Baje”
We wrapped up the week on June 28 at the Central Campus of Technology with a quiet, powerful moment of reflection. Volunteers, students, and researchers gathered by candlelight to honor the memory of Colin Smith—affectionately known across Nepal as Putali Baje.
Having spent decades documenting Nepal’s butterflies, his life’s work laid the foundation for how we understand these species today. Sharing stories of his legacy was the perfect reminder of why this work matters so much—and why passing the torch to the next generation is essential.
What’s Next?
Pollinator Week 2026 proved that real conservation starts with local action and curious minds. Moving forward, we are working to establish regular community pollinator walks, document indigenous ethnobotanical host plants, and release multilingual digital learning tools to keep the momentum going.
A massive thank you to all the student volunteers from the Research Association Hattisar, the Central Campus of Technology, and the team at the Nature Conservation and Study Centre (NCSC) who made this week possible!
Got ideas for next year’s event or want to join our upcoming community walks? Drop us an email!
