Field notes from a sandbox: Learning wild patience with wild bees

Abstract This creative non‐fiction essay discusses challenges of insect identification and wild bee collection. It engages themes of early childhood education, love of nature, and the links between patience and passion for discovery. It argues in defense of perseverance and slow knowledge acquisition, reminding readers of the importance of such qualities for biodiversity conservation, even amidst the age of instant gratification tools that make naturalism accessible to the layman.