1915 Aerotech Drive, Ste 100, Colorado Springs, CO 80916

BEE-Positive Program2025-06-09T09:52:03-06:00

Bee+Positive Program

Bee+Positive is an SKSF innovative initiative launched through generous grant support that provides clients and community with layers of lessons, curriculum, and real-world hands-on application to foster the excitement and love of learning about the honeybee and other pollinators. 

About Bee+Positive

Everyone is buzzing about our newest initiative Bee+Positive!  Bee+Positive provides an opportunity for our clients and community to learn about:

  • The vital role honeybees play in our ecosystem
  • Bees beneficial part in pollinating plants
  • Educating truths and dispelling myths surrounding bees
  • Socialization skills
  • Gardening and therapeutic benefits associated
  • Reducing or even eliminating phobias concerning bees
  • And much more!
A cartoon bee with honeycomb sits above the words "BEE Positive," alongside the SKSF logo and the phrase "A PROGRAM OF SPECIAL KIDS SPECIAL FAMILIES.
A person wearing a white beekeeping suit and hat with mesh face covering stands outdoors, participating in the BEE-Positive Program; several bees are on the top of the hat.
A man wearing glasses and a blue shirt sits in a car with a wooden box containing bees on the back seat.
Two people wearing protective beekeeping suits stand outdoors near bee hives, participating in the BEE-Positive Program, with houses and shrubs visible in the background.

SKSF Executive Director, Kevin Porter transporting and preparing the hive at Zach’s Place. “Many people have an unwarranted fear of bees because of lack of education and exposure. We are going to change that!”

Close-up of four honey bees near the entrance of a green wooden hive, with some debris scattered on the surface below them.
A bee carrying yellow pollen enters a gap in a painted wooden structure, with scattered debris and dirt visible on the surface below.
A bee with yellow pollen sacs enters a narrow gap in a green wooden structure, with scattered debris visible on the surface below.

The bees are BUZZING! Shown here are our bees bringing pollen (yellow) into the hive to make honey. The bees are busy and honey will be arriving soon! We can’t wait!

Why Honeybees?

Honeybees offer many practical benefits and learning opportunities.  However, bees also face a myriad of stigmas.   Many in the disability space regularly face discrimination, arbitrary barriers, isolation, and prejudice.  In these ways honeybees often struggle with similar challenges. In addition to everyday practical lessons, it’s our strong hope that the connection between bees and those who live with disabilities will serve as an illustration to everyone to think differently and view positively these amazing beings.

A person in a white beekeeping suit kneels beside two painted beehives and beekeeping equipment in a fenced yard.
  • An infographic debunks the myth that bees will probably sting you, explaining that honeybees are non-aggressive and sting only in self-defense or when their hive is threatened.
  • A comparison graphic showing the myth that honeybees are fine because they're still seen, versus the fact that their populations are declining due to environmental threats.
  • Illustration comparing a myth and fact about bees; myth says bees are only important for honey, fact states honeybees are crucial pollinators for fruits, vegetables, and nuts. SKSF logo included.
  • Illustration debunking the myth that all bees live in hives with a queen, explaining most bees are solitary and nest in the ground or stems. SKSF logo at the bottom.
  • Illustration with a bee and SKSF logo. Text explains only a few bee species make harvestable honey, not all bees, correcting a common myth.
  • Illustration contrasting the myth that bees are just pests with the fact that honeybees are vital to ecosystems and agriculture, warning against killing them.
  • Illustration debunking the myth that bees can survive without flowers; highlights that honeybees need nectar and pollen from diverse flowers for health and hive productivity.

Scroll through Myth Vs. Fact

Myth VS. Fact

Welcome to our Myth vs. Fact section, where we bust common misconceptions about bees and reveal the fascinating truth behind these vital pollinators. From their behavior and role in nature to the real story behind bee stings, we’re here to separate fact from fiction and help you better understand why bees are essential to our world and SO AMAZING!

Check out out Myths VS Facts about bees.

In April 2025, Special Kids Special Families was awarded funding to support the Bee+Positive Program.  This grant allows schools and non-profit organizations to receive support for educational beehives and bee programming so students can observe bees up close and learn about the vital role these pollinators play in our food system. 

Funding for this important work is made possible by:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How can I help bees?2025-05-14T15:19:40-06:00

You can help bees by planting native plants, reducing pesticide use, and supporting local beekeepers.  Additionally, you can help SKSF’s Bee+Positive program with a financial investment by visiting https://sksfcolorado.org/waystogive/

What are threats to bees?2025-05-14T14:52:47-06:00

Bee populations face various threats, including habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and disease.

I’m have some concerns about bees at Zach’s Place, can you offer some reassurance?2025-05-14T14:52:03-06:00

You’re not alone, many people have misconceptions and unfounded feelings and fears in regards to honeybees.  Rest assured we’ve taken numerous precautions including signage, on-site EpiPens, and safety training for staff and kids alike.

A boy and girl, both with special needs and disabilities, giving each other a basket of flowers.

WAYS TO GIVE

A group of people posing for a support photo.

VOLUNTEER

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