OUR MISSION
THE JUNIOR BEEKEEPER PROGRAM IS A HANDS ON PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN/YOUTH INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT BEEKEEPING. THE PROGRAM FOLOWS 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 ANND HEALTHY OF THE HIVE. GUEST SPEAKERS AND FIELD TRIPS ROUND OUT THE 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.
FORMAT:
- HANDS ON (WORKING WITH THE BEES, HONEY HARVESTING)
- CLASSROOM
- WORKSHOPS (EG. ASSEMBLING EQUIPMENT, CANDLE MAKING)
- SITE VISITS
- GUEST SPEAKERS