Bethany and Cedar Mill families can get their kids hands-on with Oregon's 500-plus bee species Thursday at the Murray Scholls library branch, just 12 days before school starts back up.

The University of Oregon's Museum of Natural & Cultural History is bringing its free "BEE Amazed" program to the Beaverton City Library's Murray Scholls branch on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 10:30 a.m. The 90-minute session is open to children in grades K–5. No registration is listed.

A museum educator will lead a presentation introducing kids to mason bees, cuckoo bees, mining bees, longhorn bees and honey bees, followed by activity tables with touchable specimens and hands-on activities. The museum's outreach page describes the program as part of a statewide summer tour; in summer 2025, the museum presented 111 programs at libraries across Oregon.

Admission is free.

The program ties into the national iREAD summer reading theme for 2026, "Plant a Seed, Read." The Beaverton City Library's own Summer Reading Program wraps up Saturday, Aug. 15, making Thursday's event one of the last chances to participate before the reading challenge ends.

Families who can't make the morning session have a second option: the same program runs at the Beaverton main library, 12375 SW 5th St., from 2:30 to 4 p.m. that same day.

The Murray Scholls branch is at 11200 SW Murray Scholls Pl., Suite 102, Beaverton. The branch is open Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Families with questions can reach branch supervisor Frances Reyes at 503-644-2197.

The library notes photography and video recording will take place at the event for potential promotional use; attendees who prefer not to appear should let staff know.

Beaverton School District students head back to class Tuesday, Aug. 25, with Bethany Elementary and Oak Hills Elementary among the early-start schools opening at 7:45 a.m. and Cedar Mill Elementary starting at 8:25 a.m.