The Bee Club could get an apiary as soon as spring, housing bees directly on campus.
The process is still underway, but if finalized the apiary would be positioned next to the pond, and eventually supply honey.
“We still haven’t quite gotten it approved,” said senior Alex Falsone, president of the Bee Club. “Dr. Hilden supports the idea of getting an apiary and he wants me to write a proposal that he can then send to administration so that they can accept or veto it.”
Waiting on the apiary, Bee Club currently spends time talking about bees and designing club posters. In their first meeting, they looked at a brand-new beehive. They were able to take a look at it from the inside and were taught how to conduct a typical hive inspection. The Bee Club’s apiary would be located by the pond.
“It’s fenced off,” Falsone described, “and there are spaces where the environmental science classes don’t go.”
Although not directly within student reach, the apiary would still be placed on school grounds. This arouses the question of a possible safety hazard with having bees near students.
“That’s a question a lot of people bring up, but the truth is there really isn’t [any danger],” Falsone explained. “There aren’t a ton of flowers out where students go outside; like by the fields or tennis courts. And bees go up to a few miles to find good flowers, so it wouldn’t be much of a problem to anybody.”
Without much danger, the upsides to an apiary are more than just educational. Getting a school apiary could also provide fresh honey. But, Falsone shared that this would not happen for a while.
“It’s not good to take honey from a beehive that’s brand new,” Falsone cleared up. “They’re still weak and need all their honey for the winter.”
Waiting for spring, there is still good turnout for the meetings.
“We have extraordinary numbers which I was very surprised [about],” said science teacher Mr. Tim Styer, the Bee Club adviser. “There seems to be a lot of fascination with bees, and [the students] are coming from all over. We’re kind of excited about that!”
In the meantime, the chances of getting a house for the bees are down to Falsone’s proposal and the administration’s decision. The possibility of an apiary spells out an exciting future for the Strath Haven Bee Club.
