The Botanical Bee-Man

Made for the 2026 Games for Change Student Challenge 

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Some insist heroes are born. Others, that they are created. Regardless, they are beacons of hope, viewed as something beyond human.

Sam, though? He was as human as anyone else, and definitely not a beacon. Sam did not believe his actions could be impactful, and as such he had little interest in changing his imperfect lifestyle choices. 

A broke Sam was saved when his green-thumbed friend was looking to pay someone to watch over their home and garden for a year while they traveled off-grid.  This wasn't just any garden---it was the heart of the community, providing affordable local berries, fruits, and flowers for neighbors. To Sam, this was nothing but a pointless chore.

Beggars can't be choosers, but they can be cheaters. The ill-informed and unmotivated Sam let weeds grow, filled the garden with pesticides, and generally didn't listen to any of his friend's instructions, but at least the garden lived... 

Sam was relaxing in the patio in front of the unmowed and beaten garden under his "care" when an angry, pesticide-poisoned bee aggressed him with a sharp sting. The bee died with a slap, but quickly, Sam began to feel weird. 

He shrank. He grew wings. He was hungry for nectar. Sam became the Bee-Man.

It was days before Sam figured out how to make a mediocre serum that let him at least spend his nights as a human. During that little but potent time, Sam was enlightened with the impact of his actions on the littlest creatures of the world. 

An all-new Bee-Man Sam finally grew to understand the value of his friend's garden and the power he held to make a difference on ecosystems. Could a bee sting make a hero out of a non-beacon? A person who can change their perspective for the better is a person to look up to.

Join Sam in healing his garden, connecting to it and his community along the way! 

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- Navigate the hectic experience of pollinating flowers as a bee
- Invest into your garden with better environmental choices to make bee life easier and 
- Learn about the benefits of pollinators and local food systems