Listen Here
By Lucille Snoke, SnokeL@Findlay.edu
In a leap towards sustainability and environmental stewardship, the University of Findlay has become a bee certified campus on Dec. 3.
UF student and president/co-founder of the club called the Hive, Dalan Seyer, has championed this cause from the get-go.
“As a result of this newfound certification, our campus will implement bee-friendly practices, educate the community about pollinator conservation, and create habitats that support our pollinator friends,” Seyer said.
In the months together, this club obtained three hives, with two generously donated by Seyer, located in various spots around campus.
“We had to find spots on campus that could well sustain the bees,” Instructor of Teaching in Biology and faculty adviser for the Hive Lauren Sandhu said. “Considering that every hive needed to be close enough to resources (flowers), well protected from predators, as well as considering wind direction and shade factors, this was a challenge.”
Professor Sandhu discussed the goal is to create four hives by planting more flowers, so the bees have enough resources.
“Ultimately, one of our (the clubs) goals is to sell honey made from the hives on campus and to use the profits to fund the Hive club,” Professor Sandhu said.
The Hive club started under a year ago, yet hosts many events, ranging from monthly club meetings touching on different topics to reach as many as possible at each meeting, and quality time with the bees during their ‘honeybee hangouts.’
“We have many new people attend each meeting because the topics have such a vast range and hit our goal of reaching as many people as possible,” Professor Sandhu said. “Many of our club members and specially those who attend our honeybee hangouts are actually allergic to bees, coming to either face their fears or just to get the opportunity to interact with bees safely in a controlled environment.”
Seyer also recognizes that bees often receive a bad rap and can be perceived as dangerous. But some students, like University of Findlay senior Kaitlyn Fisher says she worked at a greenhouse and the bees aren’t so bad.
“There were bushes full of bee’s back home (at the greenhouse), but they don’t sting,” Fisher said. “They are friendly.”
Fisher shared that she has never been stung by a bee.
“You just have to try it out,” Fisher said. “Just (doing) little, tiny things that are good for the ecosystem, like recycling. Really just anything that I can do to help the planet.”
Seyer shared their mission for the club.
“We are both a tree positive campus and a Bee positive campus. Walking around campus every day, we take for granted the shade we have from the trees on our campus; some that were planted even the same year the school started,” Seyer said. “What we really want is to provide a friendly environment for everyone.”
