Junior Beekeepers Program 2024 This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY - SA - NC Kawartha/ Hunnabees Honey & Co Mentors: • John MacFarlane • Lenka Petric • Keri Esch • Dave Nicolaou Location: Hunnabees , Millbrook 2017 – 2019; 2023, 2024 80 graduates Challenges: location, insurance, volunteers Northumberland/Dancing Bee Mentors: • Dana Petrillo • John MacFarlane Location: Dancing Bee Equipment, Port Hope 2023, 2024 20 graduates Challenges: Awareness of the program, volunteers. ➢ Goals of the Program • To introduce youth to the world of honeybees and the role of the beekeeper; • To educate about the importance of honeybees and other pollinators; • To encourage a new generation of beekeepers. ➢ The Program: • A hands - on program for children aged 9 to 14 years; • Follows the beekeeper’s year - from equipment preparation to honey harvesting • A mix of classroom and work in the hive. In class, the students 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 • February to November - each month the students learn to be stewards of their own beehive by putting into practice concepts they learn in the classroom • Workshops include equipment building and candle making • Guest speakers and field trips round out the program Beekeeping Equipment Bee Anatomy Honeybee lifecycle and family Pollination Pollination biologist Dr. Susan Chan Native Pollinators Xerces Volunteer Joanna Paul Honey Tasting Working with the bees How do we manage a hive? What does a healthy hive look like? Finding the Queen Honey Harvesting Working with beeswax Candle making