Estes Park, Colorado
In 2018, a single observation hive arrived at Estes Park Elementary School and was placed in the heart of the library. Students would pass by it, peer into it, and ask questions. Seven years later, that one hive has grown into a fully integrated K–12 beekeeping and pollinator education program spanning the entire school district. This is what happens when a dedicated educator, a supportive community, and a colony of honeybees come together to build something lasting.
When lead educator Erinn Wharton and her team of six trained teachers received their first Bee Grant, they made a deliberate choice to put the hive where the students would see it, the main library. The observation hive became a weekly touchpoint for more than 500 students across 31 classes. Curriculum resource boxes were made available for checkout. Virtual reality experiences let students see the world through a bee's eyes. Then a brand-new pollinator garden took root — the first flowers ever planted on school grounds.
The program's resilience is what sets this story apart. When COVID-19 closed schools, Erinn personally maintained the pollinator garden while the bee team continued hive care through closures. Then in fall 2021, the entire town of Estes Park was evacuated for three weeks due to a wildfire. The colony abandoned the hive. Without hesitation, the team cleaned the equipment, ordered a new package of bees, and rebuilt.
Over three consecutive years, colonies died or abandoned the hive. Each time, the team adapted. They ultimately purchased a nuc with full frames as a more reliable solution. Their persistence sent a powerful message to students: setbacks are part of the process, and stewardship means showing up even when it's hard.
"I think it will be great to have new bees because we will get to see the life cycle of them. And we can look at them and we'll be happy again." — Estes Park Elementary Student
From Elementary to District-Wide
By 2023, the program had matured into a well-run operation with daily hive monitoring, three local bee mentors, an after-school beekeeping club, and ongoing community fundraisers that channeled proceeds back into the program. Then in 2025, the vision expanded: both Estes Park Middle School and Estes Park High School received Bee Grants of their own, creating a seamless K–12 pollinator education pipeline.
Students in Estes Park now grow up with bees as a thread woven throughout their entire education, from kindergarteners curious about queens to high schoolers managing hives of their own.
7+ years of continuous bee education programming
500+ students engaged weekly through library hive talks
K–12 integration achieved across the full district
3 local bee mentors providing hands-on expertise
1 active pollinator garden maintained year-round and planted each spring by students
What began with one hive and one educator's vision now belongs to an entire community — proof that when you invest in people and give them the tools to lead, the impact grows far beyond what any single grant could achieve.
