Our Youth Groups

Honeybee Centre’s new Bees & Bugs Laboffers exciting field trips for youth groups including Cubs, Brownies, Scouts and Guides. This unique experience will introduce your group to the fascinating world of the honeybee and emphasize the importance insects and their relatives have in our environment. Kides learn age appropriate lessons, which are interactive, and they will see and have an opportunity to hold live bugs. Our goal is a fun and educational experience for all.

General Outline of Bees & Bugs Lab Visit

Honeybee & Pollinators Presentation (40 minutes). Kids observe live, working honeybee colonies in our active observation hive. The Tour Guide will teach kids about the amazing biology of the hive, and they will have an opportunity to find the queen bee, eggs, larva, pupa, drones and worker bees living within the hive. The lesson then becomes hands-on and kids learn about beekeeping principles and can handle beekeeping equipment as they open a commercial hive (no bees inside, don't worry!). Kids will learn about healthy bee products and even taste the different varieties of pure natural honey. The remainder of the presentation is tailored to a topic chosen by the group leader (see below).

Beekeeping Demonstration (15 minutes). Now, it is time to see an actual, live commercial colony of bees! Outside, students enter our safe, covered observation area to watch a beekeeper handle a live colony just steps away. The beekeeper will point out various aspects of the hive, honeybees and beekeeping. Everyone will be amazed at the truly gentle and social behaviour of these tiny insects. [Note: The beekeeping demonstration is weather permitting]

Bug Presentation (30 minutes). Kids are seated in our bug lab and receive a presentation about some of the bugs living in the “Bug Room”, on the topic chosen by the group leader (see below)

Independent Exercise in “Bug Room” (25 minutes). Your group becomes Junior Entomologists, complete with lab coats and clip boards, and complete an independent exercise in the bug observation room. Kids observe the bugs in their habitats and record ‘data’ on observation sheets, just like scientists. The Tour Guide will assist your group with their observation worksheets. Worksheets are age and learning level appropriate. There are additional games, puzzles, books, activities and worksheets to challenge kids of all learning levels.

Wrap up (10 minutes). We seat the kids back in the presentation area and they have an opportunity to ask additional questions. At the end of the program, each child will receive a free honeystik

Presentation Topics, Activities, and Optional Crafts

Each field trip consists of our age appropriate programs and group leaders have the option to customize their field trip to best meet the needs of their group.

For the honeybee presentation, the group leader may select either one free activity or one craft (extra charge) as described below:

Honeybee Activities (Free)

Plant Lifecycles - The Pollination Game: Kids learn about the process of pollination, the role of honeybees and the relationships between flowers and a variety of pollinating animals including hummingbirds and moths. Kids play a game to emphasize the process of pollination and ecological strategies of flowers to attract pollinators.

Honeycomb Construction - Building like a Honeybee: Kids explore geometry as they learn about properties of different shapes and that only one - the hexagon - is ideally suited for the honeycomb. Kids manipulate shapes, experiment with filling spaces with different shapes and build a class honeycomb. (Grade 2 and up only please.)

Adaptation - Kids learn about how arthropods and other animals have adapted to their environment, with special attention paid to honeybees. Activities available for groups of all ages.

Classification of Insects - Kids learn how a dichotomous key functions and then complete a hands-on activity, creating their own keys to identify insects. (Grades 2 and up only please.)

Honeybee Crafts (Extra charge)

Beeswax candle making - Kids learn about how bees make wax and then learn techniques for rolling candles. Each student will roll their own candles from the equivalent of one sheet of beeswax.

Mason bee house building- Kids learn about the ecology of wild mason bees (lifecycle, role in pollination, appearance, habitat, characteristics) and the importance of creating bee habitats. Kids build the mason bee house and take it home for painting or decorating. They are also provided with an instruction sheet on maintenance and care of the mason bee house. (Grades 3 and up only, please)

For the “bug” presentation, the teacher selects one presentation topic and optionally one craft (extra charge) as described below:

Bug Presentation Topics

Bug Diversity: Learn about insect diversity, the differences between insects and other bugs, the various ways that insects protect themselves and view some impressive live bugs too.

Arachnids: Arachnids are the group of bugs that include spiders, mites and scorpions, among others. Learn about these various types of bugs, the differences between them, where you find them, what the biggest and the smallest, the most elusive and you will have to decide what is the coolest.

Bug Crafts (Extra charge)

Dreamcatcher. Learn about First Nations dreamcatchers and make one to bring home with you. (suitable for Grade 3 and up)

Dragonfly ornament. Learn a cultural story about dragonflies, the meaning of the dragonfly, and make an ornament. (suitable for Kindergarten to Grade 3)

Bug catcher. Make a bug catcher that you can use to catch bugs in your parks, backyards and gardens. Learn about catching insects, respect, observation and the importance of letting insects go back into nature. (suitable for Kindergarten and up)

Admission

Group Admission

• $8.00 per child (taxes included, optional craft not included in admission)
• $1.00 per child charge for evening field trips (after 4:00pm)
• Minimum of 20 students per tour ($160)

Group Leaders and Chaperones Admission: No charge

Lunch Facilities

• Outdoor picnic area: No charge
• Booking presentation room(s) for lunch: $1.00 per child (Room(s) booked for 30 minutes)

Optional Craft Prices:

• Group name, address, phone & fax numbers
• Contact person's name, email, phone & fax numbers
• Number of kids attending
• Grade(s) of kids attending
• Select either one honeybee activity or one honeybee craft (extracharge)
• Select one bug presentation topic
• Optional – Select one bug craft (extra charge)
• Preferred date and time for field trip
• Will your group be eating lunch at Honeybee Centre?
• Any special needs or allergies of attending students

2. Contact us with your Field Trip Request:

• By phone
• By fax
• By contact on website

3. We will contact you to finalize the field trip details by phone or email.

• A $50.00 deposit is due to confirm the field trip booking.
• If payment is made by school cheque, it must be received 21 days prior to field trip date.
• Deposit is not refundable within 14 days of the field trip date.

• Details will be emailed or faxed to the field trip contact upon the deposit being paid. If you do not receive a confirmation, please advise us immediately. Please review the confirmation details and immediately advise us of any errors.