Tucson woman wants to teach you and your kids why bees are worth protecting

Bees are more than stingers and honey.

That's what Mona Chambers hopes to convey with her educational program, See the Bees, in which she hosts events to tell kids and adults all about the honey bee.

Chambers has worked with bees as a research technician for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for many years but wanted to do more education and outreach as something completely separate from her day job.

"I developed a passion for them," Chambers said. "And over the last couple years I've been wanting to branch out and do more outreach, so I started See the Bees."

Chambers brings live honey bees in an enclosed observation hive so kids and adults can literally see the bees. Presentations are typically 90 minutes long.

She usually starts the presentation talking about pollination.

"Kids know they sting and make honey but don't understand what pollination is so that's what I start out with," Chambers said. "I usually start with a list of foods that bees pollinate and ask them 'Who likes apples? Who likes pumpkins?' and say the reason I'm asking is these are all bee-pollinated crops ... I'd like people to know that they do far more than sting. Once people understand how important they are, the fear can decrease."

She also brings different kinds of honey to do a comparative honey tasting.

"What the bees foraged on will influence what the honey tastes like and feels like," Chambers said. "They can be super different. There are honeys that are really white and really liquidy. So it's really fun to do that with the kids."

Chambers says people have been more concerned about bees because of recent news reports about the insect's declining numbers.

"It's good that they're in the forefront of people's consciousness about why bees are important," Chambers said. "I feel there's a desire and need in the community to know what the deal is with the bees, like why they're important and what's happening to them and what they can do to help, so having a foundation for what bees do is important."

To help the bees, people can plant flowers, refrain from killing or swatting at them when they're flying around and learn about them so you're aware that bees aren't out to harm anybody, Chambers said.

As well as hosting its own events, See the Bees can be booked to bring its portable presentation to any private or community party or event.

The Children's Museum Tucson recently reached out to ask Chambers to give a presentation at its STEAM Sundays event July 23.

"To be able to spot the queen bee, see the chambers and even taste the honey is an amazing experience for kids," said Teresa Truelson, the museum's director of marketing. "We're so excited to have See the Bees as part of the museum experience on July 23."