The first interactive conference of our association
What you will learn here
- How we started the Gathering
- How did it go?
- What was there to see?
- What are we planning next?
Last updated: 15/11/2022
How did it start?
For a long time, we in the group have been talking about the idea of meeting up and replacing social media chats with in-person meetings. We've always talked about it, but this year we decided it was time and we're going to do it.
We sent out a survey, gathered feedback, and started planning. The data collection helped us a lot, so we had an idea of who would be coming and how to set it up.
Before the gathering, we sent a binding application form so that we could order refreshments and confirm participants.
It was a bit of a "Sophie's Choice" to choose Prague as the venue for the gathering. Prague won this year mainly for practical reasons, and next year we will head east.
Meeting Program
Bumblebees PLUS Gathering 2022
Invitation
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Program
Event location
For the event, we chose a small venue that we have used several times and where it has always been great.
If you don't know Klub Na Věnečku in Prague, ask the participants how they liked it there. The staff was very nice, they cooked well for us and as a reward we infected them with bombophilia 😀
List of presenters
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Ondřej Hercog
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Vít Cach
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Luděk Šulda
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Jakub Černý
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Jakub Straka
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Anna Hlaváčková
.
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Vojtěch Koštíř
Presentation
The program was packed, so each presenter only had 30 minutes. However, we expected that there would be questions during the panel discussion and especially in the discussion circles. Judging by the reactions of the participants, this was successful.
We will share parts of the presentations with you to give you an idea.
About the Čmeláci PLUS association – activities today and plans for the coming years – Ondřej Hercog
Ondra described the activities of the Association and talked a lot about the directions the Association wants to take. The scope is really growing and everyone can join.
In the future, the Association wants to offer its projects as ideas to other enthusiasts. Everyone can implement them on their own, together with the Association or with its support. Similarly, everyone can contribute their own ideas and offer them to other interested parties through the Association's network.
Cooperation with groups involved in nature conservation is also very important for the Society.
Ondra also presented the program of the Gathering and emphasized that helping bumblebees does not consist in breeding an abundant species in a hive, but, if possible, in supporting biotopes for bumblebees and breeding rarer species.
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Presentation Ondřej Hercog
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Presentation Ondřej Hercog
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Photo: O. Hercog (5/1/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Presentation Ondřej Hercog
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Presentation Ondřej Hercog
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Presentation Ondřej Hercog
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Ondra opens Slet 2022
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Ondra lectures
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees and their living conditions in the Žďár Hills – Vít Cach
Vítek conceived his space as a story about bumblebees in the Žďár Hills. He described the habitats where he found rare species and why they thrive there. He also described the issue of meadows, which are degraded from a natural perspective by fertilization and as a result, natural life is disappearing from them.
Then he showed his videos of individual species and talked about them in a very interesting way. It was clear how much he is dedicated to bumblebees, nature conservation, and how much he knows.
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation by Vít Cach
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation by Vít Cach
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation by Vít Cach
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation by Vít Cach
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Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation by Vít Cach
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation by Vít Cach
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Vítek and his presentation
Photo: O. Hercog (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Vítek and his presentation
Photo: O. Hercog (5/11/2022)
Wasps, hornets and hornets are our friends – Luděk Šulda
Luděk is a well-known bumblebee breeder. Nevertheless, he accepted the offer and presented a different topic, talking about wasps and hornets.
Anyone who knows Luďek knows that he can literally live with these creatures, which are terrifying to most people. Those who didn't know this learned it at a very interesting lecture.
After this lecture, at least the participants of the gathering will not be afraid of wasps and hornets in their garden.
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation Luděk Šulda
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation Luděk Šulda
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation Luděk Šulda
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation Luděk Šulda
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation Luděk Šulda
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation Luděk Šulda
Čmeláci PLUS Slet 2022
Luděk presents
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Čmeláci PLUS Slet 2022
Luděk presents
Photo: O. Hercog (5/11/2022)
The return of the forest bumblebee to the Mukařovsko region – Jakub Černý
Jakub is a bumblebee breeder and beehive/bumblebee producer. In his lecture, he discussed a program that is trying to return rare bumblebee species to the Mukařovsko region.
How Jakub came up with it, how he involved the neighbors, the surrounding area, and the community, all of that was the content of his lecture.
We are keeping our fingers crossed for Jakub that his plan will succeed.
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation Jakub Černý
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation Jakub Černý
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Jakub Černý
Photo: O. Hercog (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Jakub Černý lectures
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
On bee diversity: Social, solitary and cuckoo bees, beautiful, useful and endangered – Jakub Straka
We were happy that Jakub accepted the invitation to the conference and will be presenting at the same time. Even though he has many other activities, he came, presented a very interesting lecture and stayed for the panel discussion and working groups.
His lecture was not about bumblebees, but about all bees, that is, the family to which bumblebees belong.
We learned a lot about the way these beautiful creatures live, how endangered they are, how much they are declining, but also that even now a new species can be found because bees can be distinguished.
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation Jakub Straka
Čmeláci PLUS Slet 2022
Jakub Straka in action
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
"Germany is buzzing" or the work of nature conservationists with youth in Hesse – Anna Hlaváčková
Anička actually flew to the Festival from her home in Hesse and gave a very interesting lecture.
Thanks to this, we learned how our neighbors in Germany are doing with nature protection and its promotion. We also know how they work with children there, as well as neighbors and passersby. We know that Germans like order. But we didn't know until now that in Hesse, for example, flowering uncut islands are commonly seen on communal areas and that stone front gardens there (unlike us) are quietly disappearing.
Anička brought us a lot of materials that we are happy to study and share.
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation by Anička Hlaváčková
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation by Anička Hlaváčková
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation by Anička Hlaváčková
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation by Anička Hlaváčková
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation by Anička Hlaváčková
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation by Anička Hlaváčková
The entire presentation with lots of interesting links can be found HERE
Bumblebees PLUS Gathering 2022
Anička Hlaváčková
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Gathering 2022
Anička Hlaváčková and Ondra
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Prague's pasture is blooming – for bumblebees, butterflies and people – Vojta Koštíř
Vojta presented a number of projects to save butterflies. Thanks to this, we were able to look at different parts of our country and learn where the projects were successful and where, unfortunately, they were not.
We got a glimpse into the world of enthusiasts who are not afraid, who are not afraid, and who do something for nature conservation. For example, they make interesting programs about it from the series Don't Give Up!
Even though there were no bumblebees in the role of "star", it didn't matter at all. Where meadow flowers thrive, a diverse family of insects thrive, including our beloved bumblebees.
Vojta also told us how he almost missed the event because of the Prague Pasture and its mowers... But maybe he'll tell you that sometime when we meet in person.
Vojta was lucky enough to be the last to give a lecture, so he got a little more time. Well… in reality, he couldn't be stopped 😀
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation Vojtěch Koštíř
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation Vojtěch Koštíř
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation Vojtěch Koštíř
.
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation Vojtěch Koštíř
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation Vojtěch Koštíř
.
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Presentation Vojtěch Koštíř
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Vojta Kostíř gives a lecture
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Čmeláci PLUS Slet 2022
Vojta Kostíř is giving a lecture and Ondra can't stop him 😀
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Panel discussion
To make things easier for the presenters, we invited them to a panel discussion.
Ondra asked tricky questions and the audience gradually joined in. The topic of the panel was not about bumblebees, but mainly about their environment and the possibilities of how other insects can support them.
Čmeláci PLUS Slet 2022 - Panel discussion
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/ 2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Photo: V. Hercogová (5/11/2022)
Questionnaire drawing
We were interested in how the event was enjoyed, so all participants received questionnaires. To properly motivate them to fill them out, a "Prague lottery" was also held.
Jitka Růžičková, who was chosen, received a little attention - congratulations!
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, we will use them next year.
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Examples of questionnaires
Photo: O. Hercog (5/11/2022)
Discussion groups
The event concluded with discussion groups. The presenters had assigned topics and anyone who wanted to joined in and asked questions.
Ondra and Vítek focused on beginners and beehives.
Jakub C. and Luděk took care of "rare species of bumblebees".
Vojta and Jakub St. invited everyone who was interested in natural habitats, their protection and development to the table.
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Accompanying program
In addition to the lectures, we prepared an accompanying program and small interest corners for the participants.
Čmeláčí PLUS Semínkovna was very popular . Here it was possible to choose seeds according to need. Štěpánka Nováková and her husband Jirka helped us a lot.
At the same time, they took care of our promotional leaflets and a library of bumblebee books , which could be viewed.
We must not forget our small shop , where interested parties could buy a few promotional items and support the activities of the association.
Participants of the gathering were also able to see beehives for bumblebees, beekeeping equipment, and even a bumblebee nest, which Jaromír Čížek generously brought.
Luděk brought a box with a nest where Melittobia acasta had multiplied so that those interested could see the little big monster in person.
Čmeláci PLUS Slet 2022
The Nováks are preparing a Seedbed and a library for the Slet
Photo: O. Hercog (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
The seed factory is on its way!
Photo: O. Hercog (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Rally 2022
Rally shop
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Čmeláci PLUS Slet 2022
What was in the Slet shop
Photo: O. Hercog (5/11/2022)
Čmeláci PLUS Slet 2022
Slet shop is open
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Photos from the event
If you want to see what the event looked like, you can find the photos HERE
Thanks especially to Veronika Roubová for the time she spent on the photos and their processing!
Bumblebees PLUS Gathering 2022
Welcome to the Gathering!
Photo: O. Hercog (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Gathering 2022
Welcome to the Gathering!
Photo: O. Hercog (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Lucka Nováková at registration, or rather in flight
Photo: O. Hercog (5/11/2022)
Čmeláci PLUS Slet 2022
Vlaďka is preparing a Slet shop
Photo: O. Hercog (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
It's starting soon
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS - Slet 2022
Luděk brought a wasp hive and also a box with Melittobia acasta
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Rally 2022
Participants of the .... Rally
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Are there wasps in Ludek's hive, or aren't there???
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Advance program
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Gathering 2022
Attentive participants
Photo: V. Roubová (5/11/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Jaromír Čížek brought a bumblebee nest
Photo: V. Roubová (5/1/2022)
Bumblebees PLUS Slet 2022
Photo: O. Hercog (5/11/2022)
A little bit of statistics
Everyone who registered came. There were 28 enthusiasts , including presenters and support.
The event ended after 8 p.m., so we spent about 9 hours together there.
Everything went without any accidents, stings or jostling 🙂
Thanks
We thank everyone for their participation, help with the organization, and the presenters for their interesting presentations, discussions, and good mood.
We all agreed that such meetings make sense, so we are already looking forward to the Čmeláci PLUS Slet 2023.
Bumblebees PLUS Festival 2022
Photo: V. Hercogová (5/11/2022)