[Upbeat music plays]

Text reads, “TVOkids” and “Fifth Ground Entertainment” “Original.”

Child says, WEE!

[Giggling]

Text reads, “Leo’s Pollinators.”

An animated bee flies over the text. [Buzzing]

Leo, a blue and orange animated fish, says,
IT'S ME, LEO! THE EXPLORER
CLUB IS ON A NEW MISSION.

Text reads, “Leo’s Pollinators.” “TVOkids Presents.”

[Upbeat music plays, whooshing]

Leo says, WE'RE HELPING THE
POLLINATORS, THOSE AMAZING
CREATURES WHO MOVE POLLEN
FROM ONE PLANT TO ANOTHER.

POLLEN IS THE STUFF THAT HELPS
MAKE OUR FRUITS, VEGETABLES
AND FLOWERS.

WITHOUT OUR POLLINATORS
FLYING, BUZZING, SLITHERING
AROUND, WE'D ALL BE GOING
HUNGRY, EVEN ME!

[Whooshing, buzzing]

Leo says, HOUSTEN AND CHLOE ARE
IN THE FIELD HELPING THE EXPERTS,
SO GRAB YOUR BOOTS AND YOUR NET,
AND YOU CAN BE A POLLINHEAD, TOO.

Text reads, “Leo’s Pollinators. Explorer Club.”

Leo, a blue and orange fish, swims in a circle. Two screens behind Leo show bees.

Leo says, OH! SORRY, POLLINHEADS,
JUST A LITTLE DISTRACTED
TIDYING UP HERE.

NOTHING SAYS HOME LIKE
A COZY MUDDY RIVERBED
AND A FEW PLANTS TO ADD
A DECORATIVE TOUCH.

HOME LOOKS A LITTLE
DIFFERENT FOR ALL OF US.

[Pages flip]

Leo says, NOT EVEN OTHER FISH
WOULD LIKE MY HOME.

AND I KNOW THERE'S CERTAINLY
A FEW I'D QUESTION ABOUT THEIR
LIVING QUARTERS.

TODAY CHLOE IS HELPING OUT
A VERY SPECIAL BEE TO CREATE
A VERY SPECIAL HOME!

THAT'S RIGHT, POLLINHEADS,

A bee walks on a branch. Text beneath it reads, “Leafcutter bee.”

[Upbeat music plays]

Leo says, THE LEAFCUTTER BEE
IS AT THE TOP OF THE 'NATOR
NAVIGATOR. DON'T ASSUME THAT
JUST BECAUSE WE'RE HELPING
A BEE WITH A HOME, THAT
CHLOE IS GOING TO BUILDING
A HIVE. NOPE!

[Buzzing, popping]

Leo syas, THERE ARE OVER EIGHT
HUNDRED DIFFERENT SPECIES OF
BEES IN CANADA WHO MAKE THEIR
HOME IN THE GROUND OR USING TWIGS!

A CLUE TO THIS BEE'S PREFERRED
HOME IS RIGHT IN ITS NAME.

[Whooshing]

Text beneath a bee reads, “Leafcutter.”

Leo says, LEAFCUTTER! THEY CUT
OUT LEAVES, AND STITCH
TOGETHER THE PERFECT LITTLE
NEST FOR THEIR LARVA.

[Whooshing, upbeat music plays]

Leo says, THIS BEE IS NO SLOUCH
WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING
A HOME!

BESIDES "BEE-ING" A HOMEBODY,
HA HA, THE LEAFCUTTER IS A
VIP-- A VERY IMPORTANT POLLINATOR
FOR FRUITS LIKE BLUEBERRIES
AND MELONS, AND VEGGIES
LIKE PEAS.

CHLOE IS MEETING UP WITH
AIMEE FROM PARKS CANADA,
AND CHERYL BRYCE TO DO JUST
THAT. TOGETHER THEY'RE GOING
TO "BEE" BUZZY-- HA!

TO MAKE SURE THE LEAFCUTTER
HAS EVERYTHING IT NEEDS
TO CREATE A SWEET HOME
FOR HER YOUNG.

Chloe kneels on grass beside a large bucket. She wears her red hair pulled in a ponytail through an opening in the back of her ball cap. She wears a purple shirt.

Chloe says, I THOUGHT WE
WERE CREATING A HOME FOR
THE LEAFCUTTER BEE.

IS THIS PLANT JUST TO PROVIDE
FOOD FOR THEM IN THE AREA?

Aimee kneels on the grass. She wears her brown hair loose under a grey ball cap. Text beneath her reads, “Aimee.”

[Rustling, birds chirp]

Aimee says, WELL, THERE'S ACTUALLY
A LOT THAT GOES INTO CREATING
THE RIGHT HABITAT FOR LEAFCUTTER
BEES, AND OTHER POLLINATORS.

Cheryl kneels beside Aimee. She wears her long dark brown hair tucked behind her ears. She wears a pink tee-shirt. Text beneath her reads, “Cheryl.”

Cheryl says, THE NOOTKA ROSE IS
PART OF THE PLANT COMMUNITY,
IT'S PART OF THE KWETLAL FOOD
SYSTEM OR GARRY OAK ECOSYSTEM.

IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDES
A HOME FOR PLANTS, ANIMALS,
INSECTS, AND US AS PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY AS LEKWUNGEN.

[Whoosh]

Text reads, “Local Indigenous Community.”

Chloe says, PEOPLE, TOO?

Cheryl says, YES, YES.

Chloe says, I NEVER THOUGHT
TO CONSIDER PEOPLE WHEN
TALKING ABOUT ECOSYSTEMS.

Cheryl says, DEFINITELY.
WE'RE A PART OF THE SYSTEM,
THIS IS PART OF OUR FAMILY.

Text reads, “Did You Know?”

[Whooshing]

Housten stands beside a wooden desk. He wears an orange long-sleeved shirt with a ‘Leo’s Pollinators’ logo and blue denim jeans.

Housten says, DID YOU KNOW
THAT ECOSYSTEM IS A WORD
THAT MEANS ALL LIVING THINGS
AND NON-LIVING THINGS
THAT MAKE UP A COMMUNITY?

FROM THE SMALLEST INSECT
TO THE LARGEST PREDATOR,
THEY ALL RELY ON EACH OTHER,
AND AN ECOSYSTEM IS KIND
OF LIKE A COMMUNITY,
WHICH IS A GEOGRAPHIC AREA
WHERE THEY ALL LIVE IN.

[Birds call, water sloshes, wind blows]

Housten says, AND THE NON-LIVING
THINGS, LIKE THE TYPE OF SOIL,
WATER OR WEATHER ARE ALL
EQUALLY IMPORTANT THINGS
THAT MAKE UP A COMMUNITY
OR ECOSYSTEM.

WHEN ONE MEMBER OF THE
ECOSYSTEM IS HAVING A HARD
TIME, IT COULD AFFECT
EVERYONE ELSE.

BOTH THE PLANTS AND CREATURES
IN AN ECOSYSTEM LIVE IN THAT
COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S PERFECT
FOR THEM.

A CACTUS NEEDS HEAT AND SAND OF
THE DESERT, WHILE A MAPLE TREE
NEEDS SOIL FOR ITS ROOTS, AND FOUR
DIFFERENT SEASONS OF WEATHER
FOR IT TO THRIVE.

POLAR BEARS COULDN'T LIVE IN THE
RAINFOREST, AND LEO COULDN'T LIVE
IN THE OCEAN.

[Buzzing, whooshing]

Text reads, “Ecosystem.”

Housten says, ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS
WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE THE
PERFECT ECOSYSTEM OR COMMUNITY,
FOR ALL THE CREATURES WHO CALL
IT HOME. AND NOW YOU KNOW.

Chloe, Cheryl and Aimee walk on a path through a forest.

[Rustling]

Chloe says, SO BY PLANTING THE
NOOTKA, WE'RE CREATING A SPACE
FOR LEAFCUTTER BEE, BUT OTHER
SPECIES, TOO?

[Whooshing]

Cheryl says, THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS IS THE ADULT VERSION
OF THE NOOTKA ROSE THAT
WE PLANTED TODAY. AND IT
PROVIDES HOME FOR MANY,
MANY SPECIES.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT,
BUT IT PROVIDES SO MUCH TO THIS
VERY IMPORTANT FOOD SYSTEM.

Chloe says, NO ORDINARY ROSE, THEN.

Aimee says, YEAH, CIRCLING BACK
TO OUR POLLINATOR PAL, THE
LEAFCUTTER BEE, NOOTKA ROSE
IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE PREFERRED
BUILDING MATERIALS THAT IT USES
TO MAKE ITS LITTLE PACKETS FOR
ITS BABY BEES.

Text reads, “Larva equals baby bee.”

Chloe says, A PERFECT PACKET FOR
A LARVA? MADE BY A BEE?
THAT'S AMAZING.

Aimee says, AND BY LOOKING
AROUND THE MEADOW FOR
LEAVES THAT HAVE LITTLE
CIRCULAR OR SEMI-CIRCULAR
CUT-OUTS OUT OF THEM, YOU
CAN ACTUALLY TELL IF A
LEAFCUTTER BEE HAS BEEN HERE.

Chloe examines a leaf.

[Upbeat music plays, whooshing]

Chloe says, I CAN'T BELIEVE BY JUST
PLANTING ONE PLANT, IT CAN HELP
OUT SO MANY CREATURES,
INCLUDING PEOPLE.

A person pours water from a watering can.

[Water pours]

Cheryl says, IT'S THAT SIMPLE,
YOU CAN PLANT A FEW INDIGENOUS
PLANTS LIKE THE NOOTKA ROSE
IN YOUR BACKYARD, AND IT PROVIDES
HOME AND SPACE FOR SO MANY
DIFFERENT SPECIES, INCLUDING
THE LEAFCUTTER BEE.

Chloe says, SO YOU PLANT THE
PLANTS, AND JUST HOPE THAT
THE LEAFCUTTERS AND THE
OTHER POLLINATORS WILL JUST
FIND THEIR WAY THERE?

Aimee says, WELL, WE DEFINITELY
BELIEVE IN THE THEORY THAT IF YOU
BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.

BUT SOMETIMES WE LIKE TO TAKE
A CLOSER LOOK, AND SEE IF--WHAT
POLLINATORS WE ACTUALLY HAVE
IN THE MEADOW.

THAT'S ACTUALLY THE NEXT PART
OF OUR MISSION TODAY.

WE'RE GONNA GO AND DO SOME
NETTING, AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND
THE LEAFCUTTER BEE.

[Whooshing]

Lora holds a net as she leans towards a tree. She wears her bobbed dark brown hair loos over the shoulders of her purple tee-shirt. Text beneath her reads, “Dr. Lora. Biologist.”

Aimee says, AH, THERE'S LORA.
SHE'S BEEN REALLY HELPFUL
IN HELPING US FIGURE OUT
WHAT KIND OF POLLINATORS
WE HAVE HERE IN THE MEADOW.

[Birds chirp]

Lora says, YEAH, AND REALLY GOOD
TIMING, BECAUSE I COULD USE
A HAND.

Aimee says, YEAH, WE'RE GONNA
HAVE LORA DO THE NETTING.

WE ALWAYS LIKE TO HAVE
A PROFESSIONAL DO THAT PART,
BECAUSE THE BEES ARE
PRETTY DELICATE.

Chloe says, ABSOLUTELY, ALWAYS
HAPPY TO LEND A WING.

BUT DO I HAVE TO BE WORRIED
ABOUT GETTING STUNG?

[Birds chirp]

Lora says, WELL, NOT REALLY.

THESE ARE SOLITARY NATIVE BEES,
AND THEY'RE REALLY NOT INTERESTED
IN YOU OR STINGING YOU, THEY'RE JUST
INTERESTED IN THE FLOWERS.

Chloe asks, SO WHAT CAN I DO
TO HELP?

Lora says, WELL, YOU CAN BE
AN EXTRA PAIR OF EYES, AND
HELP ME FIND SOME BEES.

Chloe says, OF COURSE!
LET'S FLY AT IT.

[Footsteps rustle in the foliage]

[Net swishes, birds chirp]

Chloe asks, WHICH ONE DID WE GET?
DID WE GET A LEAFCUTTER?

Lora says, OH NO, THIS ONE'S A BIT
DIFFERENT, IT'S CALLED A
LONG-HORNED BEE. TAKE A LOOK
AT ITS ANTENNAE.

Text beneath the bee reads, “Long-Horned Bee.”

Chloe says, WHOA, IT'S GOT SUCH
LONG HORNS!

Lora says, YEAH, AND THE NEAT
THING IS THAT IN THIS BEE FAMILY,
ONLY THE MALES HAVE REALLY
LONG ANTENNAE LIKE THAT.

Chloe says, OH!

Lora catches a bee in her net.

Text reads, “Ground Nesting Bee.”

Lora says, OH, LOOK, WE GOT
ANOTHER KIND OF BEE.

SO THIS ISN'T A LEAFCUTTER BEE,
THIS IS A GROUND NESTING BEE.
AND SEE WHERE IT CARRIES
ITS POLLEN?

Chloe says, MM-HMM, OH, IT LOOKS
LIKE ITS GOT POLLEN PANTS!

[Lora chuckles]

Lora says, IT TOTALLY DOES.

[Whoosh]

Chloe asks, WHICH ONE DID WE
GET THIS TIME?

Text reads, “Bumblebee.”

Lora says, THIS TIME WE GOT
A BUMBLEBEE.

Aimee says, YEAH, AND IT'S A BIG,
FUZZY-BODIED FEMALE. AND I'M
JUST GONNA LOOK, HUH. IT LOOKS
LIKE IT'S WEARING A LITTLE
BLACK BIKINI.

[Laughter]

Aimee says, THAT'S ACTUALLY MY
FAVOURITE TYPE OF BUMBLEBEE,
BECAUSE IT HAS THE NAME
VANCOUVERENSIS, LIKE VANCOUVER.

Text beneath the bee reads, “Bombus Vancouverensis.”

Chloe says, OH, REALLY?
BUT DOES THAT MEAN THAT
THEY ONLY LIVE HERE?

Aimee says, WELL, THEY'RE FOUND
ALONG THE COAST HERE IN CANADA.

[Whoosh]

Lora says, OH, LOOK, WE GOT
A FEMALE LEAFCUTTER
BEE HERE.

Text beneath the bee reads, “Leafcutter bee.”

Chloe asks, WAIT, HOW DO YOU KNOW
IT'S A FEMALE?

Lora says, WELL, IF YOU LOOK
AT ITS BELLY, YOU CAN SEE THAT
THERE'S LOT OF POLLEN, THE
MALES DON'T CARRY POLLEN.

Chloe says, OH! I THOUGHT THAT
WAS PART OF HER.

Lora says, THOSE ARE HAIRS UNDER
ITS BELLY, AND THOSE HAIRS ARE
SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO HAVE
POLLEN PACKED IN THEM.

THAT'S LIKE A GROCERY BAG.
SO SHE CAN BRING FOOD BACK
TO HER BABIES.

Chloe says, WOW, THAT'S SO COOL.
AFTER THAT, WHAT DOES SHE D
WITH THE POLLEN?

Aimee says, AH, THIS IS MY
FAVOURITE PART.

SHE'S LIKE A LITTLE BAKER.
SHE ACTUALLY TAKES THE
POLLEN BACK, AND SHE MIXES IT
WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SALIVA,
AND A LITTLE BIT OF NECTAR,
AND SHE KNEADS IT INTO A TINY
LITTLE LOAF OF BEE BREAD.

Chloe says, THAT'S SO CUTE!

BUT HOW CAN A SMALL BEE
CUT LEAVES TO BEGIN WITH?

Lora says, THEY HAVE REALLY
BIG JAWS, AND THEY'RE ONE OF
THE FEW BEES THAT HAVE TEETH
ON THE ENDS OF THEIR MANDIBLES.

[Whoosh]

Lora says, SO THEY CAN GO TO
THE LEAVES, AND CUT LITTLE
CIRCLES, OR LITTLE OBLONG SHAPES.

AND THEN THEY ROLL THEM
UNDER THEIR BODY, AND THEY
CARRY THEM BACK TO THEIR NEST.

Text reads, “What’s the Buzz? With Leo.”

Leo says, WHEN IT COMES TO
NATURE, THERE ISN'T MUCH
THAT SURPRISES ME.

BUT THIS NIFTY FEATURE OF A
BEE WITH TEETH THAT BUILDS
NESTS, AND THEN LINES THAT
PACKET WITH SNACKS, IT'S
PRETTY WING-TASTIC!

[Splashing, chomping, buzzing]

Leo says, LET'S BREAK THIS DOWN.

ALL BEES HAVE MANDIBLES,
THEY'RE SIMILAR TO YOUR ARMS,
ONLY THE LEAFCUTTER HAS TEETH
AT THE END OF THEIRS.

IMAGINE HAVING YOUR MOUTH
AT THE END OF YOUR ARM
INSTEAD OF A HAND!

THE FEMALE LEAFCUTTER
USES HER TEETH TO CUT OUT
SEVERAL LEAF CIRCLES THAT
SHE WRAPS TOGETHER TO MAKE
THE PERFECT HOME, WHICH SHE
LINES WITH NECTAR AND POLLEN.

THEN SHE LAYS AN EGG THAT
WILL BECOME LARVA.

SHE CREATES THE PERFECT HOME
WITH BUILT-IN SNACKS.

NOW THAT'S SOMETHING TO
BUZZ ABOUT!

Aimee says, WOW, I'VE GOT A REALLY
GOOD VIEW OF THOSE MANDIBLES.

Chloe says, I JUST THINK IT'S SO
INCREDIBLE THAT THESE BEES
TRY THEIR BEST TO MAKE THE BEST
LIFE FOR THEIR BABIES.

Aimee says, JUST LIKE OUR OWN MAMAS.

Chloe says, YEAH.

Lora says, THESE LEAFCUTTER
BEES AND OTHER NATIVE BEES
WORK SO HARD, THEY POLLINATE
ALL THE PLANTS AROUND US,
AND A LOT OF OUR FOOD, TOO.

Chloe asks, WHERE DO THEY PUT
THESE LEAF PACKETS?

[Birds chirp]

Aimee says, AH, GOOD QUESTION.
THAT'S ACTUALLY PART OF OUR
NEXT MISSION.

Chloe says, YAY, I'M SO EXCITED.

[Chuckling]

Chloe helps place large stones in a metal wheelbarrow.

[Thudding, creaking]

A man says, WATCH YOUR TOES, HERE WE GO.

A man wears a wide-brimmed grey hate and a grey long-sleeved shirt and pants. He tips the wheelbarrow.

[Stones clatter]

Chloe says, AAH!

The man says, YEAH, PUT
YOUR ROCK IN THERE, CHLOE.

Chloe says, ALL RIGHT.
WAIT, WHY ARE WE BUILDING
A ROCK WALL AGAIN?

[Stone clatters]

Aimee says, WE'VE DESIGNED THIS
AS A PLACE FOR THE LEAFCUTTER
BEES TO LEAVE THEIR LITTLE COCOONS.

Text beneath the man reads, “Nathan Fisk. Ecologist.”

Nathan says, YEAH, I FIND THE ROCKS
PROTECT THE BEES FROM THE
WINTER. THE RAINS DON'T WASH
OUT THE SOIL, SO THEY HAVE A
NICE, SAFE HOME.

Chloe says, IT'S LIKE A LITTLE
NURSERY FOR THE BEES.

Aimee says, YEAH, EXACTLY.

Nathan says, LOOK.

Chloe says WHOA!
IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY
WILL COME.

[Stones clatter]

Aimee says, THE MOST
SATISFYING PART OF THIS IS...
LATER SEEING THE BEES
ACTUALLY USING IT.

SEEING THEM COMING AND
GOING, PUTTING THEIR LITTLE
LEAF PACKETS INSIDE.

Chloe asks, DO YOU EVER
ACTUALLY SEE A LEAF PACKET?

Nathan says, NO, NOT VERY OFTEN.

ONCE THEY'VE BUILT THEM,
WE TRY TO LEAVE THEM ALONE.
THEY'RE VERY FRAGILE.

WE LIKE TO LET BEES AND
NATURE DO THE REST.

[Birds chirp]

Chloe says, WHAT AN AMAZING DAY.

FIRST, WE GOT TO PLANT THE
PLANT THE LEAFCUTTER NEEDS
FOR THEIR LITTLE NURSERIES.

AND THEN WE CREATED
A PERFECT SPOT FOR THEM
TO RAISE THEIR BABIES.

THIS CALLS FOR A HIGH FLY.

SO WE PUT OUR HANDS
IN THE MIDDLE, AND, LIKE THIS...

Chloe, Nathan, and Aimee raise their hands over their heads.

They say, HIIIIGH FLY!
WOO HOO!

Leo says, GREAT WORK, CHLOE!

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.
NO MATTER WHAT CREATURE
YOU ARE.

Text reads, “Pollinheads Alert.”

Leo says, SPREAD THE WORD,
POLLINHEADS!

THE NEXT TIME YOUR PARENTS
OR FRIENDS ARE WORRIED
WHEN THEY FIND LITTLE HOLES
IN THE LEAVES OF THEIR ROSES,
IT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT SIGN!

THE LEAFCUTTER IS IN THE AREA,
HARD AT WORK, BUILDING THE
PERFECT HOME FOR HER YOUNG.

ALL WHILE HELPING TO POLLINATE
NATIVE PLANTS, AND YOUR FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES. SHE'S GIVING A
LOT MORE THAN SHE'S TAKING.

SO DO A HAPPY DANCE WHEN YOU
SEE THOSE LITTLE CIRCLES IN YOUR
ROSE LEAVES, YOU'VE JUST HAD AN
AWESOME NEIGHBOUR MOVE IN.

HUH! HQ IS PRETTY FIN-TASTIC...
BUT NO BUILT-IN SNACKS. HMM.

[Pages flip]

[Upbeat music plays]

End credits roll.

“Directed by: Karen Hawes.
Written by: Karen Hawes.
Produced by: Christopher Szarka and Raj Panikkar.

With
Naomi Melvin as ‘LEO’.
Chloe Drayton.
Housten Daghighi.

Produced in association with TVOkids.

Fifth Ground Entertainment.
TVOkids.