Insectival at butterfly pavilion- so much more than music!
Returning to normal life–and performing– after having a baby is a little bit like coming back to town after a long trip in the backcountry. You step into civilization and the lights are too bright, the conversations too long, the noises overwhelming. It’s hard to focus. There’s so many things going on at once. I can’t pack snacks for my four year old and also have a conversation with a friend. It feels too intense. With time you resume your normal activities, but even a trip to the grocery store can feel like a lot. So what am I doing taking the stage this Saturday at Insectival!?
When Jeff and I found out we had the opportunity to work with Butterfly Pavilion we were thrilled. We also had just discovered that we were going to be having our second baby…in the summer…right in the heart of our performance season. We weren’t sure how it was all going to shake out but we took deep breaths and trusted. Butterfly Pavilion wanted us to join their special summer event–Insectival! We weren’t even ready to tell others we were pregnant yet there we were agreeing to perform at this wonderful community event.
Jeff and I confirmed that we’d perform on July 13th, and I said to myself, okay I’m going to be ready to do a performance by July 13th. Then the rest of the pregnancy happened, and the birth of our beautiful daughter in late May. And I thought, what was I thinking?! What if I’m not ready? Every week I’ve added a few more activities to my days. I even sang a couple of songs at Meadow Music last Monday. It was so great to see all the kids and parents smiling up at me while I held our baby and sang “Bats, Oh Baby!” So I put a toe in the water and now I’m jumping all the way in! July 13th is just around the corner.
From snowy days of planning at Butterfly Pavilion headquarters, with sneak peaks of back rooms full of invertebrates that live at this fantastic center for conservation, to hot sunny days and baby Alice… Summer is in full swing and I’m putting my maternity leave on hold to perform at this special event!
Will I continue to perform after this? I don’t know, we’ll have to see how it goes for me and the family. But I know when I heard about Butterfly Pavilion’s amazing mission and how it aligns with ours, that this was an opportunity we wouldn’t pass up.
97% of creatures on Earth are invertebrates. These, often tiny and unseen creatures, are frequently overlooked. Invertebrates do many jobs for us humans, and for the earth, from decomposition and pollination to recycling nutrients in aquatic environments, just to name a few. And as the Washington Post reported in 2018 “Insects around the world are in a crisis, according to a small but growing number of long-term studies showing dramatic declines in invertebrate populations.”
That’s why Butterfly Pavilion’s work is so important, they are dedicated to transforming the way people think about the small but mighty animals that are the hidden heroes of the animal kingdom. Butterfly Pavilion is the world’s only stand alone, Association of Zoos and Aquariums Accredited invertebrate zoo. Their mission is “to foster an appreciation of invertebrates by educating the public about the need to protect and care for threatened habitats, while conducting research for solutions in invertebrate conservation.”
Like me, you may think of Butterfly Pavilion as a fun way to get out of the house and maybe learn something while you’re at it. What I didn’t know is that BP is doing so much more! They manage programs and projects achieving global impact for invertebrate conservation AND they have a whole team of people, in those cool back rooms that I mentioned, doing cutting edge research focused on the sustainability of invertebrate populations.
Join us to celebrate and learn about invertebrates This Saturday July 13th for Insectival at Butterfly Pavilion Jeff and Paige perform at 10:30am and we’ll be joined by our pianist pal Andy Gruel. But that’s not all, there’s so much more happening. Full schedule is pasted below. Admission to the event is free with admission to Butterfly Pavilion. If you read this article make sure you come and say hello… to this wilderness explorer, taking a break from maternity leave to happily perform for a truly fantastic organization that supports our earth.
Disclaimer: Postpartum mom writing this articles. Please forgive grammatical errors, typos, and unskillful syntax.
INSECTIVAL
Rosie the Tarantula’s 24th Birthday Bash!
July 13, 2019 from 9 am – 5 pm
Play, bounce, dance and discover at this family-friendly carnival celebrating Butterfly Pavilion’s 24 years protecting nature’s hidden heroes – invertebrates!
Featuring:
Bounce houses, games, face painting, hands-on activities
LIVE performance by Jeff & Paige
Cockroach races
Full exhibit access
Members Only:
VIP room and check-in
Included with General Admission
Free for members
$5 admission for SNAP card holders
Food and drink will be available for purchase at the Butterfly Pavilion Beestro, Gift Shop, and additional food trucks on site.
