Bee Campus USA
In 2018 Washington College became Maryland’s first Bee Campus USA and only 35th such campus dedicated in the country. This was possible through the efforts of Shane Brill ’03 M’11, and faculty, staff, and students involved in the Campus Garden.
Bee Campus USA brings college communities together to sustain pollinators by increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nesting sites, and reducing the use of pesticides. When the College signed onto the program, we had no idea that our arboretum and grounds supported important native bee population nesting sites literally under our feet, and a large variety of Native Bees.
As a Bee Campus, Washington College is ensuring a better future for our pollinators, our communities, and the planet. Bee Campus USA fosters ongoing dialogue to raise awareness of the role pollinators play in our communities and what each of us can do to provide them with healthy habitat.
The Bee Campus USA program endorses a set of commitments for creating sustainable habitat for pollinators and promotes research and curiosity.
College students, faculty, administrators, and staff have long been among the nation’s most stalwart champions for sustainable environmental practices.
How is Washington College Pollinator Friendly?
Natural Lands Project through CES
Restores native wildlife habitats throughout the bioregion, focusing on native meadows
that support native pollinators
Campus Arboretum
Promotes native plants, trees, and best practices to promote the welfare of insect
biodiversity.
Academic Pollinator Research
Students collaborate with professors on research projects involving pollinators from
a variety of perspectives.
Campus Garden
Students practice beekeeping at our Campus Garden apiary.
Permaculture Internship
Students research relationships between plants, pollinators, and local food production
systems.
Beekeeping 101 Course
The Lifelong Learning program teaches students how to become beekeepers and serve
as bee ambassadors to the public.
Programs and Guest Speakers
Public programs that educate students and the public about native bees and their importance.
News
- Rare, Thriving Native Bee Nesting Site Documented on Campus
- Research Seeks to Find Natural Treatment for Honeybee Disease
- The Effects of Prescribed Burns on Biodiversity
- What to Plant in Your Garden, According to Chaucer
- Building a Foundation for Careers in the Great Outdoors
Ongoing Advocacy
- The Student Government Association maintains the certification for Bee Campus USA and collaborates with interdisciplinary classes to promote pollinator advocacy on campus.
- The Campus Grounds staff creates meadow plantings in place of lawns.
- The Campus Garden conducts honey extraction workshops and sells the honey as a fundraiser to purchase plants for pollinators.
- The Compost Team rebuilds soil as the basis for pollinator habitat.
- The Student Government Association organizes Casey Time which has included the planting of native flowering plants.
Native Bumble Bee
Native Leaf-Cutter Bee
Native Mining Bee
Native Mason Bee
Non-Native Domestic Honey Bee