Community Outreach
Our club's goals include educating the community on the benefits of bees, showing people how they can help support bees and helping people who are interested pursue their dream of becoming hobbyist beekeepers. We do this through various community outreach activities such as teaching community education classes, conducting workshops and participating in local organization activities to promote bees and beekeeping in the Treasure Valley. This page includes examples of our community outreach.
Western Idaho Idaho Fair - 2025
Thank you Ruth Crone and Ann Cochrane for a super organized and educational Western Idaho Fair experience.
Our club sold 5,475 honey sticks thanks to all of the 57 volunteers that made this event special and important for the attendees. What a kick it was to see adults learn something new about bees. Thanks to all of the members that put together observation hives so that the little ones could witness a queen bee and her attendants up close. According to Boise State Public Radio, exhibit attendance was up this year compared to previous years. It sure did feel as if there were more people interested in learning about our club, bees and sharing with us that they too were beekeepers.
Our club sold 5,475 honey sticks thanks to all of the 57 volunteers that made this event special and important for the attendees. What a kick it was to see adults learn something new about bees. Thanks to all of the members that put together observation hives so that the little ones could witness a queen bee and her attendants up close. According to Boise State Public Radio, exhibit attendance was up this year compared to previous years. It sure did feel as if there were more people interested in learning about our club, bees and sharing with us that they too were beekeepers.
The Doctors are in the Hives!
July 24, 2025 - Boise Foothills
Thank you to Dr Bryan Brimhall, Mackenzie and the Ada County Medical Society for inviting the Treasure Valley Beekeepers Club to Dr Bryan Brimhall's home to share and learn about bees. Dr. Bryan is a member of the TVBC. His daughter Piper stole the show. She is a budding beekeeper soon to be entomologist, maybe? Piper, by her mother Nikki's confession, has read every book on bees in the Boise Library. Both Bryan and Piper make fierce advocates for bee health and pure unadulterated, natural honey. Thanks for the sample Dr Bryan! Also a big thank you to Vic Otto and Robert Sperry for bringing the observation hive, Ann Cochrane for coordinating the event along with Mackenzie from the ACMS for providing a night of communing with the bees. And....thanks for the really tasty pizza. BUZZZZ!!!!
KIN Takes a Field Trip to the FLC
July 7, 2025 - President Brooklin Gore warmly welcomed KIN Co-Owner/Chef Kris Komori along with his crew/family to the Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center for a tour and hands on learning experience of the Treasure Valley Beekeepers Club hives. Benoit Lafon, Head Beekeeper of the FLC hives, gave an expert talk and demonstration about bee biology, products of the hive and staying safe around hives. Garrett Hana presented fresh spring/summer honey to the “foodies” to lap up the golden syrup using the best utensil know to man, their fingers. Everyone was smiling and giddy as they tasted the floral noted honey strait from the comb. It was a sensory filled learning experience that will hopefully inspire these chefs to use more locally sourced honey bee products in the dishes they present on their menu. Thank you KIN family for allowing us to share with you our passion for bees and learn how products from the hive are most amazing to the palate.
Here is the KIN website for you to check out. https://www.kinboise.com/
Here is the KIN website for you to check out. https://www.kinboise.com/
February 15, 2025 - Oregon State Master Beekeeper Class
June 15, 2024 - Pollinator Days at the MK Nature Center
Marc and Brooklin staffed a table at the Nature Center and talked to over 100 people coming through to learn about pollinators. It was a real good time sampling honey and talking bees. Marc was able to sell a bit of honey in the process, donating $3 from each jar sold to the MKNC. Sue Dudley, Volunteer Coordinator for the MKNC said Thank you so much for coming, your station really adds so much to our event. Lots of people really enjoyed visiting with you. Hope to have you back next year.
Marc and Brooklin staffed a table at the Nature Center and talked to over 100 people coming through to learn about pollinators. It was a real good time sampling honey and talking bees. Marc was able to sell a bit of honey in the process, donating $3 from each jar sold to the MKNC. Sue Dudley, Volunteer Coordinator for the MKNC said Thank you so much for coming, your station really adds so much to our event. Lots of people really enjoyed visiting with you. Hope to have you back next year.
June 13, 2024 (and May 30) - Foothills Learning Center Summer Camp
Shanna presented to two summer camp groups ages 5 to 9 about bees. The May 20 camp was on What Beekeepers Do and the June 13 camp was on Bees and Native Flora.
Shanna presented to two summer camp groups ages 5 to 9 about bees. The May 20 camp was on What Beekeepers Do and the June 13 camp was on Bees and Native Flora.
June 2, 2024 - Collister Neighborhood Garden Tour
Shanna, Ann, Darby, Sean, Jeff, and Garrett volunteered at the First Annual Collister Garden Tour. They spent the day educating the community on all things honey bees! Tour attendees were treated to a variety of educational material including a live observation hive.
Shanna, Ann, Darby, Sean, Jeff, and Garrett volunteered at the First Annual Collister Garden Tour. They spent the day educating the community on all things honey bees! Tour attendees were treated to a variety of educational material including a live observation hive.
May 18, 2024 - Second Mite Management Workshop
Just Bill conducted the Club's second mite management workshop at the apiary of Kevin Duesman and Kathryn Montgomery in the Barber Park area. Club members got hands on experience using mite test kits and treating for mites -- the Treasure Valley's #1 honey bee nemasis and cause of hive loss. Proper and consistent mite management is the key to a healthy hive and winter survival. Considering a new colony of bees costs between $150 and $180 dollars, it is very cheap insurance.
Just Bill conducted the Club's second mite management workshop at the apiary of Kevin Duesman and Kathryn Montgomery in the Barber Park area. Club members got hands on experience using mite test kits and treating for mites -- the Treasure Valley's #1 honey bee nemasis and cause of hive loss. Proper and consistent mite management is the key to a healthy hive and winter survival. Considering a new colony of bees costs between $150 and $180 dollars, it is very cheap insurance.
May 3, 2024 - Ladies Night Beekeeping at Zamzows
Ann, Garrett and Rena staffed our club table at Ladies Night. They talked about beekeeping in the Treasure Valley to over 30 visitors. We hope to see a few of our guests at a future club meeting or event. We make beekeeping as a hobby easy!
Ann, Garrett and Rena staffed our club table at Ladies Night. They talked about beekeeping in the Treasure Valley to over 30 visitors. We hope to see a few of our guests at a future club meeting or event. We make beekeeping as a hobby easy!
April 27, 2024 - Backyard Beekeeping at Edwards Greenhouse
Ann, Garrett, Laura, Phil, Rena, and Robert taught an introductory class on beekeeping in the Treasure Valley to 45 students. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful venue for learning about bees. Hopefully a few of these students will join our club and go on to raise their own bees. We make it easy!
Ann, Garrett, Laura, Phil, Rena, and Robert taught an introductory class on beekeeping in the Treasure Valley to 45 students. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful venue for learning about bees. Hopefully a few of these students will join our club and go on to raise their own bees. We make it easy!
April 25, 2024 - Steam Night at Cole Valley Elementary
Ann, JB and Rena spoke to the kids and parents about bees and the Treasure Valley Bee Club.
Ann, JB and Rena spoke to the kids and parents about bees and the Treasure Valley Bee Club.
April 13, 2024 - First Mite Management Workshop
22 recent OSU Apprentice Beekeeping students and club members got hands-on experience at our first workshop on testing for and treating Varroa mites. Each participate left with a mite test kit and confidence to test and treat mites in their own appiaries. The Varroa Destructor mite is the #1 cause of hive loss in the US today and effective mite control is key to long term efficacy of your apiary. If you missed this valuable experience, we're conducting another one on May 18 at Kevin Duesman's.
22 recent OSU Apprentice Beekeeping students and club members got hands-on experience at our first workshop on testing for and treating Varroa mites. Each participate left with a mite test kit and confidence to test and treat mites in their own appiaries. The Varroa Destructor mite is the #1 cause of hive loss in the US today and effective mite control is key to long term efficacy of your apiary. If you missed this valuable experience, we're conducting another one on May 18 at Kevin Duesman's.
March 12, 2024 - Idaho Outdoor Association
We spoke to 20 members of the IOA who were interested in learning about bees and beekeeping.
We spoke to 20 members of the IOA who were interested in learning about bees and beekeeping.
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