GEORGETOWN

In Georgetown, a kindergarten class is engaged in an activity many adults may be too scared to attempt: Beekeeping.

“I’ve never heard of any kindergarten class doing bees,” said Doug Calhoun, a local beekeeper who has helped teacher Laurie Martin launch the school’s first beekeeping program.

“But this is remarkable. I mean, not only the teacher, but they’ve been studying about bees because I’ve been giving a presentation about bees to this class for a number of years,” said Calhoun.

The program is possible thanks to a grant from the Whole Kids Foundation called the Bee Cause Program, which awarded $1,500 to pay for bees, equipment and safety gear. Then came the task of convincing the school board that the program was beneficial and — more importantly — safe.

“Basically, the whole concept is safety. That’s why we have the fencing, so no one can get at it or in it, the protective gear and the EpiPen. So once we had that, I think the board was convinced,” said Calhoun.

With the project approved, Martin and Calhoun moved forward with getting the bees and prepping the hive. The children painted the hive, which was donated, and Martin ordered child-sized beekeeper suits from BetterBee.

Honey bees aren’t actually native to Maine, and often have to be imported from southern states. The bees used at Georgetown Central School were transported to Maine from Georgia, and included the most important part of a successful hive — the queen. The bees arrived in April, and the kindergarten class has been caring for them since then. They’ll collect their first harvest of honey in the fall.

As the school year came to a close in June, Martin helped her six students into their protective gear to go check the hive.

“It’s quite a process getting everyone dressed up, but it’s so much fun,” said Martin as she helps her students don their protective gear. “Even though winter’s over, I feel like we’re getting dressed for going out in the snow whenever we do this. It’s like putting snowsuits on.”

All decked out with protective layers from head to toe, the kindergartners marched down the halls and out the door, to the fenced-in area behind the school that is home to Georgetown Central School’s first and only beehive. Without any fear, the class walked into the area, and Calhoun removed a frame from the hive — covered in bees — and held it in front of the class.

“See inside there, see that little white stuff ?” Calhoun asked the kindergartners. “That’s the larvae. The eggs have hatched into the larvae, and as they get a little bit bigger they cap it.”

Pointing to different areas and bees on the frame, Calhoun explained the three-week life cycle of the bees, from eggs to adult bees. The students also answered questions about the different types of bees — worker bees, drones and the queen — and correctly point them out on the frame.

“Bees are important,” said student Violet Annunziata. “Because they make honey and they also are good for our life because if they weren’t here we wouldn’t have grapes and things like that.”

Martin is also working on a book with the students to help fund the program once the grant runs out.

“With the second grade, we’re writing a book right now through Partners for Publishing to sell it to make money to put toward the bees,” said Martin. “We’re hoping to have it finished for the Working League Fair, but we’ll see.”

Based on the success of the pilot program this year, Martin hopes to expand next fall.

“I’ll do it again with them next year,” said Martin. “I’ll probably do a bee club with the entire school next year, but this year we just did it with kindergarten.”

nstrout@timesrecord.com