Bee University NYC (Bee-U) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that engages urban communities through hands-on training in beekeeping, leadership, and environmental advocacy.
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Hive Experiences
Bee-U’s Hive Experiences are designed for participants 8 and older to safely engage with honey bees and learn more about these fascinating pollinators. This immersive experience is perfect for anyone curious about beekeeping.
At the end, participants enjoy a unique honey tasting, sampling honey varieties from around the world—including honey from Bee University NYC’s very own hives!
Click here for more information about our Hive Experiences
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Urban Beekeeping Fellowship
Bee-U’s Urban Beekeeping Fellowship is a paid program for youth aged 16-24 to gain hands-on training in beekeeping, leadership, and environmental advocacy.
Urban Beekeeping Fellows learn basic skills of beekeeping, dive deep into contemporary environmental issues in their neighborhoods, and learn about career pathways to green jobs.
Click here to learn more about the Fellowship and how to apply
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Community Events
Bee-U hosts free events for people of all ages, creating inclusive opportunities for community members to explore urban beekeeping and environmental education.
One of the highlights is our annual Opening Day event, held each May at our flagship location in Staten Island’s Maker Park. This event welcomes the community to learn about honey bees, visit our hive area and pollinator garden, and enjoy hands-on activities that promote environmental awareness.
Click here to find out about our next event
Our vision is for urban communities to be intentionally exposed to careers in the green jobs industry through the practice of beekeeping and environmental stewardship.
We want to tackle disparities in the green jobs industry. Women, Latino/Hispanic, Black, and LGBTQIA+ people are poorly represented in the clean energy sector.
According to E2, Women represent less than 30 percent of all workers in the sector despite accounting for nearly half (48 percent) of the U.S. labor force as a whole. Black people compose 8 percent of the clean energy workforce (compared with 13 percent economy-wide) and Hispanic/Latinos making up 16.5 percent (versus 18 percent economy-wide).
Our Impact
Bee University NYC has a transformative impact on both the Staten Island community and New York City at large. Through its unique programs and events, Bee University NYC empowers youth, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, to engage in the green economy and environmental stewardship.
The Urban Beekeeping Fellowship, our flagship program, has trained and graduated dozens of students who gained hands-on experience with honey bee management, environmental justice education, and critical leadership skills.
Partner With Us
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Community organizations have the opportunity to involve their students in Bee University NYC’s Urban Beekeeping Fellowship through our partnership model. This collaborative approach allows organizations to share the cost of student stipends, making it easier for young people to access this unique program.
Organizations can also engage with Bee University NYC by booking a Hive Experience or a range of workshops, providing their students with direct, interactive learning about honey bees, environmental stewardship, and sustainable practices.
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Companies have several meaningful ways to engage with Bee University NYC. You can book Hive Experiences, where employees interact with honey bees and enjoy a honey tasting, or arrange an employee engagement day featuring activities like park clean-ups or beeswax workshops.
Corporate support also extends through in-kind and monetary donations, which help fund Bee University NYC’s programs, including youth education, hive care, and environmental initiatives.
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Schools can engage with Bee University NYC through interactive, educational workshops designed for students of all ages. They can book a Hive Experience, where students safely observe honey bees up close and learn about their ecological importance, or participate in a beeswax workshop, crafting items like candles or lip balms.
Additionally, Bee University NYC offers hive consultation and ongoing support for schools interested in establishing and maintaining their own hives, enriching students’ learning with hands-on beekeeping and environmental stewardship activities.
