Bee Buddies Grant Program
In Partnership with Crown Bees
Bee Buddies is a separate, partner-sponsored K–12 pollinator education program offered by Crown Bees in collaboration with Planet Bee Foundation. Bee Buddies provides students with an opportunity to observe gentle Mason bees and experience pollination, nesting behavior, habitat, food systems, and environmental stewardship firsthand. Using region-appropriate Mason bees, and provided nests, students can observe seasonal changes in their own school pollinator garden while engaging in science and conservation.
Grade Range: K–12
Program Season: Spring
Cost: FREE to accepted schools
Availability: Limited
Geographic Availability: Public and private K–12 schools in the continental United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii
Award Limit: One Bee Buddies kit per selected school
Accepted schools receive:
Reusable 48-hole wooden trays for Mason bee nesting
A starter set of Mason bee cocoons
Clay-mud material for Mason bee nest building
Guidance for creating and setting up an appropriate Mason bee house
Seasonal care and program guidance from Crown Bees
Curriculum resources through the Planet Bee Foundation partnership
Opportunities to connect Bee Buddies participation to Planet Bee community science and Environmental STEM curriculum
Grant Eligibility
Participating schools should be prepared to:
Have access to a spring blooming pollinator garden with an appropriate location for the bee house
Identify a teacher, staff member, or school representative who can serve as the program point person
Follow Crown Bees’ setup and seasonal care guidance
Provide students with short opportunities for observation during the active season
Participate in requested program reflection or reporting
Share photos when appropriate and when school permissions allow
