On Tuesday, March 29th (Annex) and Wednesday, March 30th (SM) our schools will be visited by honeybee expert, Cliff Sunflower.

The students will first attend an assembly and then participate in a series of hands on workshops that will introduce them to the vital roll that honeybees play in our biosphere.

Cliff Wright-Sunflower is a master beekeeper, environmental educator, storyteller and performer. In his audience participation program, “Dancin’ with the Honeybees”, he brings the scientific magic of the honeybee hive to life.

Dancin’ with the Honeybees is an assembly/workshop program presented by Cliff Sunflower. Using honeybees as his focus, Cliff reaches all levels of students and adults with concepts, facts and ideas about the Ecology of the natural world. Dancin’ with the Honeybees uses storytelling, poetry, prose, puppetry, music, dance and participatory theatre. The follow-up “Bee Touch Me Museum” lab program reinforces the science concepts presented in the main assembly.

The students are divided into workshop groups to taste the various honeys, to visit up close with an observation hive of bees, to make a beeswax candle, and most importantly, to share their bee fears, experiences and questions. Cliff answers all questions with words and images that respect the questioner’s level of understanding.

Cliff’s enthusiastic reverence for the study of science is contagious and inspiring. Classroom teachers and administrators are just as thrilled as the students by the mystery that Cliff reveals through his knowledge of honeybees.

With 25 years experience as a beekeeper and as the owner of Bear Honey Farms with his wife Lois, Cliff has gained a hands-on understanding of bees and their place in the ecosystem. As an environmental educator talented in audience communication, Cliff translates his knowledge into a program of creative dramatics that makes “Dancin’ with the Honeybees” a sound interdisciplinary educational event.