Thank you for volunteering to work in MacDonald's Barn! This is a very important part of MCBA's public outreach efforts. We are trying to introduce visitors to honey bees and to appreciate their value and fascinating qualities.
Here is a partial list of how you can help while working in the Barn:
DAILY SETUP
- Ensure that all LIGHTS are turned on, including
- Observation Hive lights. There should be at least one light for each side of the hive. If they are not attached to the hive when you arrive, search the stall to locate and install them.
- Decorative lights. Rope lights and other decorative lights should be on at all times.
- Have visual aids ready near the Observation Hive, and use to help visitors find eggs, queen, workers, etc.
- Tidy up the stall
STEER THE CONVERSATION
Visitors may be shy, or not know what to ask. Draw them in.
- Proffer fun bee facts
- Invite them to find the queen, workers, honey, larvae, etc
TELL THEM NOT TO MISS OUR OTHER TWO BOOTHS:
- Live Bee Demos in the Gazebo at 1pm, 4pm, 6pm
- Free Honey Tasting in the Olde Timers building
POINT OUT OUR TWO QR CODES for More Info
- WEBSITE QR Code
- Cool bee facts
- List of bee-friendly / deer safe plants for their garden
- How to support Honey Bee research
- BEEKEEPING CLASS QR Code
- Get info about our November Beekeeping 101 Class
- Signup to receive updates on the class schedule and enrollment
Note from MCBA Board Member Judy Treible
How the signs helped me when I volunteered Monday:
I could quickly guide a young couple with a cranky toddler to the beginner class QR code. They were really curious about bees and beekeeping and were grateful to scan the code and be on their way..
Later, a gardener who wants to plant more natives for pollinators came by. He wanted a list of natives that were also deer proof. I told him about Marie Rojas's plants for pollinators chart on the MCBA website. He scanned the QR code on the back wall to get to our site.
FUN FACTS TO SHARE Your enthusiasm to keep bees safe will be contagious!
- Explain how the colony is organized, point out cells with honey/larvae/pollen/ eggs
- How much honey does a single bee produce in its entire lifetime?
- How long does the queen live? H
- ow many eggs can she lay in one day?
- How can you tell the difference between males and females?