We are Buzzing to Puerto Rico!!

We cannot express our gratitude for all you have done. You are the reason we have exceeded our goal of $5,000! Whether you gave $5 or $500, you are part of this project and always will be.

With one week left in this crowdfunding project, we've decided to increase our goal to help fund a return trip to San Juan. We designed this study with the plan of visiting Puerto Rico twice in 2021, 2022, and 2023. In ecological research, it is incredibly important to have multi-year data sets, as it allows us to see how bees respond to changes in the environment over time. It helps us make sure that the data obtained in one year was not a fluke and to identify any trends. By using the same methods and visiting the same sites, we can compare the data collected across the years and, ultimately, paint a bigger, more detailed picture of the bee community in San Juan. 

While we will apply for grants to fund these important return trips, this is never a guaranteed source of funding. Extending our crowdfunding goal ensures that we will have some funding for a future trip. This new goal will not cover all future trips, but we believe it is a realistic goal with the little time that is still remaining. Everything over $7,000 will be applied to those return trips. 

We promise your donations will be used to continue the study of bees in urban areas, so we can better protect and promote our little friends.  

Want to get involved, but still want to know more? Feel free to reach out to Emily Morris at emily.morris.1@slu.edu or head over to Dr. Camilo's lab website to see what other exciting things are happening in the lab.

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." 

In Memory of Margo Prieto -- Daughter, Sister, Mom, Wife, Aunt, Cousin, Friend

I would like to take moment to thank those who have donated in memory of my late aunt, Margo Prieto. In my home, her lemonade was famous. Every time we visited her in the summer, she would make us lemonade with freshly squeezed lemon juice, without fail. She was a God-fearing woman that faced every struggle head-on. She fiercely battled lung cancer, while encouraging and supporting those around her, making the best of every situation. COVID-19 took her from us sooner than expected, but her lessons live on. 

With every lemonade we drink, may we remember Margo, her love, and her encouragement, and let us show to others the love and acceptance she demonstrated to us.

Hello!

We are getting closer and closer to the end of this crowdfunding adventure and we are getting excited about the next step -- fieldwork!

We plan on leaving for San Juan shortly after the Fourth of July and will stay there for six weeks. While we are there, we will be visiting various parks, vacant lots, and gardens throughout the city. We will compare the bees found at the different sites, seeking to understand why some species live at some sites and not at others. 

As you continue sharing this with friends and family, we are happy to answer any questions they may have! So please feel free to reach out to Emily at emily.morris.1@slu.edu

In less than one week you helped us raise over $1,000! We cannot begin to express our gratitude. 

Here's a little fun fact for you. I was talking with a grad student in Puerto Rico and they said that in Puerto Rico the bee species Xylocopa mordax (pictured on our crowdfunding homepage) is nicknamed cigarron. This bee is related to the Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica) which is found throughout the Midwest. 

Thank you so much for supporting us! Your donations make this project possible! From sunscreen to rental cars, these gifts cover a multitude of needs. They will be used to cover airfare between St. Louis, MO and San Juan, Puerto Rico, food and lodging, rental cars and gas to travel to field sites throughout the city, and the equipment necessary to start and maintain an insect collection.