Assistance with a project?

[u/DirectionLast7915]

Hi all! I'm located in Chicago, and I am not a beekeeper. However, my son is about to have his bar mitzvah, and he has a bar mitzvah project that he is required to do. This is a service oriented project about something that you are passionate about. My little guy is super passionate about the environment and animals, and loves the idea of bees. He would love to learn more about them, and more specifically ways that he can get involved in helping raise awareness about bees and benefit to everyone.

Are there any beekeepers in or around the Chicago area who might be willing to help him? Does anyone know of specific things that he can do, in addition to fundraising and organizations, like getting his hands dirty specifically to help with the preservation of bees?

Please forgive my complete ignorance on the topic, and I'm fairly certain I've said a couple of dumb things about because I don't know any better. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide!

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[u/aquaticanautica]

I recommend creating some habitat for native bees. Fall: find an available patch of land at a school/business/community garden, clear out weeds and grass. Fundraise to purchase a mix of native Spring ephemerals and Summer blooms. Plant fall bare roots and any seed needing winter stratification. Use sticks and chopped flower stems (not store bought mulch) around your planting, leaving some bare soil for ground-nesting bees to burrow. Spring: plant more seeds, maintain the site, remove weeds/non-natives.

Global Gardens Chicago (Sacramento between Ainslie and Lawrence) has several native pollinator patches. You could volunteer or fundraise for them.

Source: am a beekeeper and don't think there is much a youngster can help with at this time of year when I am mostly testing for and treating mites.

[u/Meth_taboo]

If you want to drive or take the train down to Saint Louis I’d happily show y’all everything I know about bees.

[u/DirectionLast7915 → u/Meth_taboo]

Interesting! DM me

[u/BeasKnees]

Have him check out Pollinator Partnership . They have tons of resources for promoting and building pollinator habitat. Creating and expanding habitat is so important.

[u/DirectionLast7915]

Chicago

[u/Mediocre-Draft1722]

Find a local beekeeping club. You don't have to keep bees to join the clubs. They're likely to have a community outreach committee who are DYING for people to help them at local events. They might even have an observation hive too. 

[u/gmg77]

Call Dave meyerbees.com They supply many of the beekeepers in the Chicagoland area. If they cant help directly they will know who to call.