HIVES FOR HEROES

Hives for Heroes is a national non-profit service organization focusing on sustainability, conservation, and providing a healthy transition from a career in the miltary or emergency services. Through our national network of beekeepers, we provide connection, purpose, and healthy relationships, through access, resources, and funding for the success of Active-Duty and Veteran Military and First Responders. From just an idea in 2018 to a small cluster of volunteers in 2020, the program has grown to almost 5000 members today across the United States and the world. At the core of the program is the value of Connection. Connecting one mentor and one newBEE over one hive. It’s about connecting Veterans to each other, to nature, and to themselves all through the activity of beekeeping. The program pairs local beekeepers as mentors with Veterans interested in beekeeping as a hobby (Mentors do NOT need to be Veterans). Interested newBEEs and mentors simply fill out a short application on our website < https://www.hivesforheroes.org > and our Connections Team will try and locate a match. Once the connection is made, the newBEE and mentor coordinate the relationship going forward. Following the “See one, Do one, Teach one” model, the first year the Veteran newBEE watches their mentor, shadowing their activities and assisting with beekeeping tasks. The mentor shares educational resources, information on local bee clubs, and teaches the newBEE on existing hives in their apiary to help the newBEE become a successful beekeeper in the future. Should the relationship continue into a second year, Hives for Heroes encourages mentors to provide a nucleus colony or share a split of bees with their newBEEs to allow them to keep bees of their own. The mentor/newBEE relationship matures and topics and questions discussed become more advanced. In their third year, the newBEE is invited to pay it forward by becoming a mentor themselves and continuing to grow the beekeeping community! In addition to the local connection, the national Hives for Heroes organization is always there as a resource for both newBEE and mentor alike. Hives for Heroes headquarters hosts a national meeting monthly over Zoom allowing Veterans to interact with guest speakers, State Leaders, and mentors from across the country. Hives for Heroes also provides scholarships, educational resources, and a wide variety of collaborative partnerships to support Veterans. So, whether you’re a Veteran of the military or emergency services interested in learning more about beekeeping or an experienced beekeeper interested in connecting with a local newBEE, consider Hives for Heroes. It’s free to join and a great way to connect over the amazing world of bees and beekeeping.