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hvparent.com n Hudson Valley Parent 21 Materials: 4 pages of construction paper 1 packet of pollinator wild ower seed mix 1/2 cup of warm water per sheet of paper Kitchen Blender (of course, to only be used by an adult) Directions: Start by tear- ing each sheet of paper into tiny pieces and place in sepa- rate bowls. Next, pour 1/2 cup of warm water over the pieces. Allow the paper to soak for 5 minutes be- fore running through the blender. Pour the mix- ture into a strain- er and squish the paper with the back of a spoon to get most of the liquid out. The paper mixture should be pasty, but not complete- ly dry. Discard the water and put the paper pulp into a bowl and add a dime-sized amount of seeds. Roll into 1/2 inch balls and place on a piece of wax paper to dry. According to my kids, the straining step is the most, "boring part" of the project. If you have kids who are always in a hurry to move on to the next step, perhaps offer them a wildflower coloring page, or a list of facts about honey bees to read. This will keep them occupied while they wait. Allow your finished product to sit for 48 hours to dry completely. While the bombs dry, work with your kids to create a homemade slingshot. Find a Y-shaped stick in the yard and put a thick rubberband around the branches. It must fit snugly. And, voila! An instant launcher. Tips: • Using three sheets of paper and one seed packet yields approx- imately two "seed bombs" per sheet of paper. • You may need to add just a bit more water to the blender when whirling the paper. This will keep the paper from bunching up around the blade. If you add a little too much water that's OK, it will be removed during the strain- ing step. When you are ready to launch, find an open, unoccupied field to fling the bombs into, or just have fun in the yard at home. Either way, the bees will thank you for it! How to make a 'Seed Bomb' Photos by Roxanne Ferber To receive the latest and greatest in Hudson Valley • Top 10 camps • Camp essentials • Camp resources • Camp giveaways ...and more! HVParent.com/signup