>Dave Green writes:
 
   > I'm also saddened by the loss of so many old timers, without the torch
>being passed on.  There are so few young beekeepers......
 
and JOhn Day writes:
 
>Which is why we should help the newcomers who appear on the list......
 
I AGREE.
 
I would to also suggest that beekeepers donate time to give demonstations
in schools.  These students will be the future beekeepers.
 
I have been teaching beekeeping to elementary and high school students for
the past 15 years.   I dress in the full outfit and demo all the tools and
equipment to describe why bees are important to mankind.  I also bring in a
live 2 frame observation hive as part of my show and tell on beekeeping.  I
have laminated a collection of the 12 Study Prints and Life Cycle Charts to
help with the presentation.  The presentation takes about 30 to 40 minutes
(average student attention span).
 
The impact on the students is impressive, not to mention the number of
calls I get from parents for swarm pick-up in the springtime. :)
 
Paul Cronshaw DC
Hobby Beekeeper and Beekeeping Evangelist
Santa Barbara,  CA, USA