What you need for an insect hotel building day

Use this shopping list to prepare a hands-on insect hotel building day without missing the small items that slow construction down. You will need untreated wood, natural filling materials, fixings, shared tools and protective equipment for each build station. Plan the quantities around your number of participants and allow extra screws, drill bits and gloves for breakages or lost items. Arrange wood cutting and tool testing before the day, rather than while groups are waiting to start.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentqty 2
Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 60
Workbenchesqty 6
Waste binsqty 4

Equipment

Drill standqty 3
Cordless drill driversqty 6
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 6

Tools

Hand sawsqty 6
Hammerqty 8
Screwdriversqty 12
Drill bitsqty 24
Measuring tapesqty 8
Pencilsqty 30
Clampsqty 12

Safety

Safety gogglesqty 30
Work glovesqty 30
Ear defendersqty 12
Dust masksqty 30

Construction materials

Untreated wooden cratesqty 30
Untreated wooden boardsqty 40
Bamboo polesqty 100
Hollow stemsqty 150
Tree slicesqty 60
Pine conesqty 100
Wood chipsqty 6
Terracotta potsqty 40

Confirmation

Wood screwsqty 500
Hanging hooksqty 30
Ropeqty 100

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 70
Platesqty 70
Cutlery setsqty 70
Coffee potsqty 3
Teapotsqty 2

Catering

Coolersqty 3
Water jugsqty 4
Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 3 boxes
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Coffee creamer - 2 tubs
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Sparkling water - 4 bottles
- Lemons - 10 pieces
- Apples - 6 kilos
- Bananas - 4 kilos
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Carrots - 3 kilos
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Snacks - 4 bags
- Crackers - 6 packs
- Hummus - 8 tubs
- Cream cheese - 6 tubs
- Young cheese - 3 kilos
- Plain hummus - 4 tubs
- Whole wheat bread - 12 loaves
- Wraps - 8 packs
- Lettuce - 8 heads
- Tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Chicken breast slices - 2 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Vegetable soup - 8 liters
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Herb butter - 8 tubs
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Brownies - 6 boxes
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Salt - 1 pack
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Napkins - 8 packs
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Toilet paper - 3 packs
- Hand soap - 3 bottles

Decorations

Information boardsqty 6
Name badgesqty 70
Markersqty 12
Paper tableclothsqty 8

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 4
Spongesqty 8
Hand broomsqty 4
Dustpan and brushqty 3

Lighting

Work lightsqty 4

Tips

Prepare one complete tool set for every build station, including a cordless drill, drill bits, screwdrivers, a tape measure, pencils, clamps and a hammer. Add at least one spare drill and extra bits if several groups will work at the same time.
Buy untreated timber only, and have the boards and wooden crates cut to size before participants arrive. Cutting during the session creates queues and leaves less time for building.
Provide filling materials in separate containers so groups can choose bamboo poles, hollow stems, pine cones, wood chips, tree slices and terracotta pots without mixing everything into one pile.
Count safety equipment by participant, not by table: aim for one pair of safety goggles and work gloves per person, with ear defenders and dust masks available wherever sawing or drilling takes place.
Plan the outdoor setup before shopping. A party tent, tables, chairs, workbenches and waste bins are easy to overlook, but you need them ready before opening the build stations, especially if rain is possible.

Frequently asked questions

What materials do I need to build insect hotels?: Use untreated wooden crates or boards, bamboo poles, hollow stems, tree slices, pine cones and wood chips. Terracotta pots can provide extra nesting spaces. Buy enough filling material for every participant to complete one hotel, plus around 10% extra for damaged or unsuitable pieces.
How many tools are needed for an insect hotel workshop?: Give each build station its own drill, drill bits, screwdrivers, measuring tapes, pencils and clamps. For a group of 20 people working at five stations, prepare five working sets, at least two hand saws and one hammer per station, plus one spare cordless drill.
How many screws do I need for an insect hotel building day?: Allow roughly 12 to 20 wood screws per insect hotel, depending on its size and construction. Buy at least 20% more than your calculated total so a damaged screw or a misplaced one does not stop a group from finishing.
What safety equipment should I buy for an insect hotel workshop?: Provide safety goggles and work gloves for every participant, with dust masks and ear defenders available for dusty or noisy tasks. For 20 participants, prepare 20 pairs of goggles and gloves, plus at least four spare sets.

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