The information they glean, process and retain as they learn about the importance of bees.
That's what's in store for classes attending field trips to the UC Davis Bee Haven, a half-acre public bee garden located on Bee Biology Road, west of the central UC Davis campus.
The problem is--not that many schools can afford field trips.
"Our CrowdFund will provide funding to three Title I schools or affiliated youth groups that will cover the guided tour fee and transportation costs for up to 50 people (students, teachers, parents) to participate in a 90-minute field trip at the Bee Haven on the UC Davis campus," according to Christine Casey, academic program management officer for the UC Davis Bee Haven, an educational bee demonstration garden maintained and operated by the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.
"We will fund up to $1000 per school," she writes on the Crowdfund website. "Our unique outdoor learning adventure has been experienced by nearly 50,000 visitors since 2013."
"Participants will see and learn about the 200 plant and 80 bee species that occur at the Haven. They will safely catch and observe bees and participate in a grade-appropriate bee monitoring exercise that will introduce them to scientific research and create a memorable learning adventure about bees, plants, science, and the natural world. We'll also provide books for each school's library that can be used to extend program impact."
The bee garden, located next to the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, is open daily from dawn to dusk except for Tuesdays (open at 10 a.m.) "so we can maintain physical distance during garden maintenance," Casey says.
The Haven was installed in the fall of 2009. Self-described "rock artist" Donna Billick of Davis created the six-foot-long, 200-pound ceramic mosaic sculpture of a worker bee using ebar, chicken wire, sand, cement, tile, bronze, steel, grout, fiberglass and handmade ceramic pieces. Installed in 2010 near an almond tree, Billick named it "Miss Bee Haven." Bee scientists marvel at the anatomical accuracy, right down to pollen baskets and stinger. Visitors eye it, examine it, and photograph it.
Want to learn more about the fundraising project? View Casey's YouTube video and access the Haven website.
All contributions to support the fundraising project are welcome and appreciated. Click the CrowdFund site at https://crowdfund.ucdavis.edu/project/29773. The goal is $3000. The project ends at 12:59 p.m., Feb. 28.
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