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Getting Beehives on to Campus

Steps to Success
By Guest Contributor Ryan King, certified middle school teacher at Ruch Community School (K-8 public
school)

Over the course of my graduate studies at Southern Oregon University, the following set of seemingly ran-
dom facts crossed my path:

 Nearly one in 10 American children today now receives

an ADHD diagnosis.

 Annual state spending on standardized tests increased

160% following the passage of No Child Left Behind in

2002.

 17 percent of new teachers leave their jobs in the first
five years.

 For every one farmer under the age of 25, there are

five who are 75 or older.

These facts only appear to be random. In reality, they are not random at all but shed light on the disconnect
felt by many students from the natural world, a byproduct of our current learning landscape of indoor test-
ing and structured direct instruction. Before us lies the challenge to strengthen the ties between schools
and the environment around them. One possible model revisits the age-old practice of keeping bees.

Beekeeping can create and enhance curriculum for a wide audience of students in the elementary, second-
ary, and collegiate settings. Just like school gardens, on-site beehives provide opportunities for students to
put their academic learning to practical use. But unlike gardens, bees can sting and cause panic – a difficult
sell to schools and parents.

Yet many campuses all around the United States have active beehives that act as learning centers for new
beekeepers and eager students alike. For example, at Southern Oregon University, on the wings of strong
partnerships and a crescendo of student interest, three beehives, managed by university students, were in-
stalled adjacent to the campus community garden in 2013.

Can this be replicated elsewhere? The answer is yes! Below are some helpful steps that can take many
months to achieve.

The first step is to galvanize support from the most powerful voice – the youth. A signed petition from stu-
dents or an oral presentation to faculty members will do the trick. Just plant a seed and nurture its growth
by outweighing the associated risks with both the educational and environmental benefits of beekeeping.
Utilize data and evidence that can be found in the practice of place-based education, and various conserva-
tion policies like the Agricultural Research Service’s annual report on colony losses.
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