What’s the Buzz?

How kids can help support and protect honey bees

Kids can use their innate curiosity and intelligence to learn about our natural world and adopt an important cause. Why not help support and protect honey bees?

Honey bees are our friends because they are precious pollinators; but their populations fluctuate due to environmental and other factors such as habitat loss, pesticides, viruses, parasites and insufficient food supply. About a third of the food consumed by Americans comes from crops pollinated by honey bees, so honey bee health is important!

In school, children learn that we are all responsible for the sustainability of the ecosystem and our planet. Kids have the power to raise awareness, to educate others, and to help protect and preserve species. Here are 10 things kids can do right now to support honey bees.

Recognize

Appreciate bees while they are at work pollinating. Give them plenty of space and watch to see exactly what they are doing.

Plant

Plant native flowers in gardens, public spaces and flower pots. Honey bees are attracted to purple, blue, white and yellow flowers. Herbs, flowering fruit and vegetable plants also nourish honey bees. Plant clover in your lawn and if possible, leave a meadow area of uncut grass in your yard. Honey bees love clover, which produces small white, pink or reddish blooms.

Plants that Attract Honey Bees

Creating a habitat for honey bees is a great way to support them. Even a small patch is effective. Consider planting wildflowers, aster, California poppies, cosmos, lavender, lilacs, Black-eyed Susan or sunflowers; flowering fruits or vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, berries or squash; or herbs such as cilantro, sage, thyme or rosemary.

Research

Get books about honey bees from the library and do some online research. Study pictures so they recognize the difference between honey bees and other bee species. Look at photos of the inside of honey bee hives to notice the structure, organization and efficiency of bee colonies.

Explore

Look for honey bees in your yard, garden, at the park or at camp. Take photos without getting too close. Enlarge them to get a closer look. Print them out and put them in your nature journal.

Support

Provide water for honey bees to drink. A shallow plastic dish of water with flat rocks in it will work. Honey bees will stand on the rocks to reach the water. Use a clear or light color bowl to keep the water from overheating.

Raise Awareness

Share what you know about honey bees with other children at camp or school. Make a poster, project, or webpage and share it in class or with your scout troop.

Educate Others

Make flyers on your computer (or color them with crayons or markers) to spread the word and educate others about what you’ve learned: Why honey bees are good and how to attract and support them. Tell people not to use pesticides. Put flyers in neighbor’s mailboxes and post on community bulletin boards at the library, coffee shops, restaurants and the grocery store (with approval). Mail flyers to local government officials and to newspapers.

Visit

Plan a kids class or take a beehive tour at a local beekeeping farm such as Girl Next Door Honey to learn more about harvesting honey: www.girlnextdoorhoney.com.

Buy Local

Visit a local farmers market to find locally made honey, or buy direct from a local, family-owned company such as Mikolich Family Honey. www.mikolichhoney.com

Cook with Honey

Now that you understand the importance of honey bees, try baking with honey! Honey can be used in place of sugar in many recipes—yum!

Sarah T. Yale is a nature loving, working, writer mom, whose children are learning to love the natural world and do their part to sustain and preserve the planet.

June 2022 • SanDiegofamily.com • 21

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