WE ARE ON A MISSION TO CHANGE THE WORLD ONE BEE AND ONE MIND AT A TIME!
Bill and Debra, a husband and wife team, discovered their passion for beekeeping in 2010. Concerned about Colony Collapse Disorder's impact on bees and pollination, they offered free seminars, installed beehives, and partnered with various organizations. Recognizing a lack of youth engagement in environmental issues, they developed an education program, initially focused on schools but later expanded to include community and corporate initiatives. Their commitment to accessibility led them to provide all educational materials for free to public schools, supported by donations and sponsorships. Planet Bee, established as a nonprofit in 2015, expanded its Environmental STEM Education Program to include native bees and adapted to virtual learning during the pandemic. Operating nationwide with hubs in the San Francisco Bay Area, Pennsylvania, and DC, they have impacted over 200,000 individuals and continue to grow.
2000
Bill and Debra Tomaszewski discover backyard beekeeping, sparking their passion for the natural world.
2006
Concerned by Colony Collapse Disorder, they realize the potential impact on pollination and food crops.
2010
Organized action begins under the name Marin Bee Company, offering free seminars, installing beehives, and collaborating with nonprofit organizations, community gardens, schools, and corporations.
Later that year, recognizing the lack of youth engagement in environmental issues, they begin developing a STEM education program for schools alongside their existing initiatives.
2012
The organization rebrands as Planet Bee Foundation, expanding its focus to include school programs alongside community and corporate programs.
2015
In March of 2015, Planet Bee Foundation receives its 501(c)(3) status, solidifying its nonprofit status.
Later that year, the Environmental STEM Education Program expands to include native and honey bees.
2019
Gaining a few big partnerships, Planet Bee expands programming with corporations, museums, and libraries to impact community members.
2020
Amid the pandemic, Planet Bee's educational programs scale up nationwide, adapting to meet the demand for virtual learning.
Present
With hubs in the San Francisco Bay Area and Pennsylvania, Planet Bee collaborates with schools, nonprofits, and corporations across the US and Canada, impacting over 500,000 individuals and continuing to grow its reach. Our programming includes asynchronous and synchronous Environmental STEM lessons about bees, HarvestED, a curriculum designed to educate about plant life and soil, Community Science Programs, Educator Professional Development, and more!