The Bee Cause Project seeks to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards while protecting our planet’s precious pollinators.
Although on its own, the average worker bee only produces about 1/12 teaspoon of honey in its lifetime, an entire hive of bees can make anywhere from 20 to 60 pounds of honey each year. In this and so many other ways, the bees show us the power of collective impact – a concept at the heart of The Bee Cause Project.
The Traditional Bee Grant, a collaboration between The Bee Cause Project + Whole Kids Foundation, is open for grant submission every September and encompasses three grant options: Monetary, Indoor Observation Hive, or Traditional Langstroth Hive. This grant program gives support to a school for an educational live bee program to engage students in pollinator education, enhance STEAM skills, and develop a life-time love of conservation and environmental stewardship. In addition to live bee hives, grant recipients receive curriculums, lesson plans, and other educational materials to bring the classroom into the heart of the hive! The most successful applicants begin the pollinator curriculum before welcoming live bees so check out the digital Back to School Bee Program.
- Click here to download the Grant Overview to review the details of the grant.
- If you are ready to apply, go to the Bee Grant page to register and complete your application.
Back to School with the Bee Cause Project!
Back to School Bee Program resources are distance learning-friendly, include teacher companion guides, and are mapped to the standards – even the reading list.
Step One: Educate
Every Bee Program, like a honey bee hive, needs a strong foundation. They recommend first referencing the “How to Grow Your Bee Program” guide then begin to implement the Six Week Bee Unit. This curriculum has core compliant lessons, teacher guides, flash cards, and literature circle prompts.
Step Two: Build a Bee Club
No bee operates alone! A Bee Club provides structure to build support among your community, and to create an environment for those who want to learn more about bees! Bee Clubs are a great space for hosting bee book discussions, developing habitat on campus, and learning how to keep bees.
Step Three: Connect with Community!
Connect with your community members such as 4-H agents, local beekeeper association members, and farmers for in-person visits and (digital) field trips. These opportunities are an easy way to weave your larger parent and educator communities to better understand the program, and our friends, the bees.
Monthly Buzz Classroom Calendar
Step Four: Expand Your Habitat
Every hive needs a healthy habitat! Now is the time to understand and apply what you’ve learned about helping the bees succeed! This may look like welcoming live bees, or building native pollinator habitat. The “Bee” a Friend to Pollinators lesson plan will help you understand how pollinators share your surrounding habitat.
Want to know more?!
- Check out their website at thebeecause.org
- Lesson Plans
- For general inquiries and interest in grant programs, please email info@thebeecause.org.
- For events, sponsorship inquiries, and questions regarding your existing bee grant, contact programs@thebeecause.org.
