Reagan Breeze
There will be a certain buzz in Dryden and Kenora this summer as local youth will get a crash course on beekeeping.
Reagan Breeze is hosting a Honeybees Junior Beekeeping course with COVID-safe classes starting this month.
Bees and the role they play in nature and society will front and centre.
Breeze says the history and evolution of bees and beekeeping will be studied, as well as the impact that things like pesticides have on bees and the roll they play as a pollinator.
He notes the program is broken into eight sections and has a building component to it.
“Children will be able to assemble the bee boxes themselves, the roofs and bottom boards, so from there they have hammers and nails, and it will look like Santa’s Workshop a little bit, but this is going to be building responsibility for the youth for the protection of the bees that they are going to be taking care of.”
Breeze says this will help teach kids ownership and a sense of responsibility.
He stresses “The kids are going to be able to learn the stages of growth within the hives. It’s very unique. It’s very scientific based. It’s going to be something that’s going to be stuck with them for the rest of their lives I imagine.”
However, the program is carried out in a fun and hands-on fashion.
Breeze says bees are one of the most important creatures that we have, noting one-third of the food we eat every day is basically created by bees.
He notes 100% of the honey from the bees that they take care of will be going back to their families.
