GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Children from the UF-IFAS Extension’s 4-H Stingers Club gathered for their final meeting of the year last week. The meeting was one to remember, as children could put their knowledge to the test.

Members have been exposed to many aspects of honeybee stewardship throughout the year, including honeybee biology, maintenance, apiary expansion and the various business concepts beekeepers use in their apiaries. They were finally able to put their learning into practice, as students could rotate through three authentic honey production stations last Saturday morning.

Under the guidance of Susan Welch, program lead for the 4-H Stingers and member of the Clay County Beekeepers Association, students learned the intricacies of honey production.

At the first station, dubbed “decapping,” students took turns removing the caps from honeybee hive frames, a process that resembles filleting a fish. This step was crucial for allowing them to collect wax, which will be used for a future project.

The second station involved honey extraction, where the children loaded the frames into an extractor and spun them, effectively separating the sweet nectar from the combs. After spinning, the honey was filtered to obtain a pure, sweet product, a testament to the students’ hard work.

The final station was focused on bottling the honey. Once the honey was filtered and ready for consumption, every child could fill a 16-ounce, one-pound bottle, each donated by the Beekeepers Association.

Welch’s husband, Bob, also an experienced beekeeper and honey producer, played a significant role at the club’s final meeting for the year. He led the children with the honey extraction and bottling process, enriching their learning experience.

“I want to enable every child to participate,” he said.

The bottles will be sold for $10 each at the Aug. 5 Master Gardeners Plant Sale at the Extension Office, where Stingers’ members will assist adults in transporting purchased plants to their vehicles so the club can fund itself for the future.

Welch, who has been with the Beekeepers Association for seven years, emphasized the importance of the hands-on experience, as many of the children had never extracted honey before. She wanted the children to grasp the entire honey extraction process.

But more important is the club’s impact through the development of well-rounded individuals that can thrive.

The program teaches the biology of honeybees, core concepts about honey extraction, and valuable life lessons in financial management, budgeting and more.

“I’m not trying to make everyone a beekeeper, but the important message is the lessons they learn while working with bees: responsibility, problem-solving, and teamwork. These life skills will serve them throughout their lives, preparing them for the future,” Welch said.

The club runs like a business; children learn expenditures and how to balance a budget.

“It’s not just about the numbers; it’s about understanding the value of hard work, integrity, and the importance of helping others,” she said.

Welch demonstrated an essential skill to children: how to greet customers and assist them in bringing items to their cars at the upcoming plant sale.

The club creates a lasting impact, teaching children the value of communication, courtesy, community involvement, financial management, responsibility, presenting themselves with professionalism and working with adults.

It’s something that goes beyond beekeeping.

“It helps with leadership and money management,” said club member Will Benoit.

The 4-H Stingers, formed in 2018, was the first 4-H beekeeping club organized in the state and is only one of two clubs in Florida, according to the University of Florida Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory.

The Master Gardner Sale will be from 7:30 a.m. to noon at 2463 State Road 16.