The Piti Theatre Company of Shelburne Falls and Switzerland will launch a “Bee Week” in Wareham in mid-October to raise awareness for the plight of the pollinators while giving children and adults tools to help bees thrive in their community.

The highlight of the week will be a performance of “To BEE or not to BEE,” which takes the stage at Decas Elementary School on Oct. 13. On Oct. 14.

Jonathan Mirin, Piti Theatre Co. artistic director, will provide a story-telling version of the play – “The Story of our Bees” – for preschoolers at Wareham Free Library. Both productions involve sharing with children and families the ways in which they might support honey bees and the environment. At the end of each event, actors will distribute packets of seeds for planting bee gardens.

A Wareham Cultural Council grant is helping to bring this Bee Week to Wareham. In addition to the two performances, a number of activities including a documentary screening, children’s sidewalk art, honey tastings at local restaurants, library bee book displays, workshops on developing bee gardens and more will be offered.

The week is designed to bring awareness to the role bees play in the environment. In 2006-2007, United State beekeepers lost 50 percent of their bees and since then they have continued to struggle with annual losses resulting from pesticide use, loss of habitat, rising levels of electromagnetic radiation and industrial beekeeping practices.

Piti Theatre Company is actively seeking more Wareham-based partners. Local environmental groups, neighborhood associations, businesses, farms and farmers markets, schools, churches, and others are urged to get involved.

Additional sponsors to expand Bee Week programs are being sought, too. Sponsors would receive special recognition in marketing and media materials as noted on the Sponsorship Package available on the Wareham Bee Week web page. For more information, visit www.ptco.org/WarehamBeeWeek.

To discuss BEE WEEK activities and sponsorships, contact Susan Kooperstein at skooperstein@comcast.net or 617-875-3619.