JUNIOR BEEKEEPERS

THE KAWARTHA JUNIOR BEEKEEPER PROGRAM IS A HANDS-ON PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN/YOUTH INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT BEEKEEPING.  THE PROGRAM FOLLOWS THE BEEKEEPERS’ YEAR – FROM EQUIPMENT PREPARATION TO HONEY HARVESTING.  EACH MONTH THE STUDENTS LEARN TO BE STEWARDS OF THEIR OWN BEEHIVE BY PUTTING INTO PRACTICE CONCEPTS THEY LEARN IN THE CLASSROOM.  IN CLASS, THEY LEARN ABOUT POLLINATION, BEE BIOLOGY AND PEST MANAGEMENT.  AT THE HIVE, THEY OBSERVE AND IDENTIFY BEES, SPLIT COLONIES AND MONITOR THE PROGRESS AND HEALTH OF THE HIVE.  GUEST SPEAKERS AND FIELD TRIPS ROUND OUT THE PROGRAM.

THE KAWARTHA JUNIOR BEEKEEPERS PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2017. THE PROGRAM HAS SINCE PARTNERED WITH DAVE & KERI FROM HUNNABEES - WHO ARE BOTH MENTORS ALONG WITH JOHN & LENKA, AND PROVIDE THEIR SPACE TO HOST THE SESSIONS. 

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
• TO INTRODUCE YOUTH TO THE WORLD OF HONEYBEES AND THE ROLE OF THE BEEKEEPER;
• TO COMMUNICATE THE IMPORTANCE OF HONEYBEES AS POLLINATORS;
• TO ENCOURAGE A NEW GENERATION OF BEEKEEPERS.