TBCA Educational Apiary at Mayland
Educating the next generation of young people about the importance of honey bees in the hea lth of our ecosystem is one of the primary goals of the Toe Cane Beekeepers Association. To that end, the club has established a Community Educational Apiary (Bee Yard) on the campus of Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine, where hands-on learning can take place. The apiary grand opening was held April 14, 2025.
This TCBA Community Educational Apiary bring beekeeping out of the textbooks and lecture halls and into real life. We want to spark curiosity about the natural world in children and engage people of all ages in the wonders of beekeeping.
The apiary houses strong colonies of bees inside a protective fence to deter bears or curious non-beekeepers. The association holds a regular series of hands-on events for groups interested in learning more about beekeeping and the importance of bees in agriculture.
Workshops
Workshops teaching both basic and advanced beekeeping techniques are offered. 4H and school groups are invited to bring students to the apiary for field trips and to look inside the hives while wearing protective bee suits. A project under the auspices of NC State University’s Apiculture Program, the Microbreeder Queen Initiative, offered local beekeepers training on raising their own queens.
The educational apiary is a partnership among the TCBA, Mayland Community College, Mountain Air Community Fund, and the community.
If your school group or civic organization is interested in attending Apiary events, please use the button below for inquiries.
