My family recently had the chance to attend a honey harvest event organized by the Door County Beekeepers Club. The event took place at the Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay, and it was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about these amazing creatures.

Thanks to the amazing staff and volunteers who organized and guided us, our honey harvest experience was fantastic. We learned about the importance of honeybees in our environment and how they contribute to the ecosystem.

One of the highlights of the event was the interactive activities and demonstrations. We could see the bees up close and learn about their behavior, life cycle, and how they produce honey. Participating in the hands-on activities left my son absolutely thrilled, as he couldn’t get enough of the bees’ hardworking and fascinating nature.

A newfound appreciation for honeybees

Overall, the honey harvest at Crossroads at Big Creek Learning Center Nature Preserve in Sturgeon Bay was a great experience. We left with a newfound appreciation for honeybees and their role in our environment. We thank the Door County Beekeepers Club for organizing such an informative and engaging event. If you can attend one of these events, we highly recommend it!

Honey Harvest at Crossroads

Firstly, we tried to locate the Queen Bee and walked around looking at the cycle of life. Refreshing what we have learned in past years. We stopped by Let It Bee’s Booth, where they showed us some tools used to bee keep.

We tried Meade made from honey and lemonade sweetened with honey. Both were delicious.

Then, we tried a few different flavors of honey. Cole liked the lemon best.

Next, we made candles out of beeswax strips. We each chose a different color and can’t wait to find the perfect spot for them in our home.

We went on to craft reusable beeswax wraps for food storage. This was so fun and easy. You just evenly spread beeswax beads and heat them up for a few minutes til the beads melt. Then, spread any pooling areas of wax around to coat the fabric evenly, making sure to get the edges good. I have been wanting to make these forever. We had a great time doing this craft together as a family. Typically, it’s Cole and I doing crafts. So it was really nice to have Troy join us.

After we made our crafts and taste-tested all the goodies, we headed outside for a stroll through the meadow. And out to where the hives were located. The beekeepers demonstrated how to extract honey using a flow hive. Which allows the keeper to collect the honey without disturbing the bees.

My Dad lending a helping hand.

This children’s activity was to demonstrate gathering pollen and pollinating flowers. It was a hit with smaller kids. However, my 10-year-old was too cool to try it. They did have bee tattoos, and he was all about that.

After watching the live honey extraction up close and personal. We went back to the learning center to watch another method of extraction. Where the beekeepers used a stainless steel 3-frame hand crank. And showed us the process of uncapping the hexagon waxed over honey cells with different types of tools. Place into the extractor, and hand crank for about 5-10 minutes.

Honey Extraction Process

At this point, you run the honey through a double sieve and into a collection bucket. As a result of straining your honey, it will be free of any bee bits, comb, or pollen. To ensure purity, strain your honey and seal it tightly in an extracted bucket. Let it sit for a few days to release any air bubbles before bottling. Fun fact: you can put your frames next to the hive when you’re done. The bees will tidy up and dry the frames, so you can store and reuse the frames in the future.

Discover all the crafts and gifts we received at the Crossroads at Big Creek Honey Harvest. Take a look at our sustainable products like beeswax wraps, candles, seeds, lip gloss, and honey from the latest extraction. Plus, Cole received a jar of honey as an attendance gift. It was an incredible event where we learned a lot and now have some second-hand experience. We’re grateful to Crossroads and The Door County Beekeepers Club for the opportunity!

Have you had a chance to view our latest blog post about the bee cycle? Check out some of the other homeschool activities and events we’ve attended. On our blog’s personal section, particularly the new homeschool section. We hope you enjoy and share your experiences with us in the comments below or on social media!