Spreading Knowledge About Honeybees, Native Pollinators and Nature Around Us.

Chicago Honey Co-op Training Center was started as a way to expand the educational efforts begun by Chicago Honey Co-op. Beekeeping education and training has always been a part of what the Co-op is about but keeping bees and selling honey are full time occupations. Starting an education focused partner non-profit was a way to bring our beekeeping knowledge to more people.
The Training Center isn't a physical place but we hope it will be a valuable resource for schools, community groups, other nonprofits and beekeepers. Our focus in this effort, as it has always been, is on under-served communities. For every speaking fee or short workshop we charge for, about 50% goes to support free workshops for schools or groups without the funds to pay.

Here's What We're Doing:

In the Summer of 2015 the Training Center participated in 3 family events for the JCC Chicago. JCC kindly purchased an observation hive that now allows us to bring a live honeybee colony into classrooms for children to see and learn about honeybees in the hive. 

For the summer of 2016 so far we are giving 3 workshops at Skinner Park in Chicago, visiting a senior housing center, and Skyping with a high school class. We expect more requests as the season goes on. In addition to that, we are partnering with Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation to teach beekeeping to students in their after school programs.

Here's what we want to do:

• Visit more school classrooms to teach students about honeybees and beekeeping
• Give apiary and food garden tours for both children and adults
• Work with non-profit partners to help teach work skills to people with barriers to employment
• Supply speakers for educational events and conferences
• Give beekeeping class scholarships to people who lack the funds to attend
• Develop more workshops for current and new beekeepers
• Solicit donations of beekeeping equipment to enable low income families or individuals to start beekeeping.

Here's why we want to do it:

We get many requests each year from teachers, librarians and others who would love for us to come and speak about honeybees in their classrooms or to their organizations. More often than not, they have no budget to pay for this and Chicago Honey Co-op hasn't had the resources to cover the cost. The same holds true for for apiary tours. We want to be able to visit a classroom, give a tour, or help out a beekeeping student whenever they ask.  

Here's how you can help:

• Donate $20.00 to pay for a beekeeping book.
• Donate $80.00 to cover the cost of a day long beekeeping class for a needy student.
• Donate $100.00 to cover the cost of a day long beekeeping class and beekeeping book 
• Donate $100.00 to pay for a beekeeping/garden tour leader.
• Donate $200.00 to pay for a school classroom visit.

All donations are tax deductible

CHC Training Center will be growing and getting it's own website in the soon.  We hope to raise $25,000.00 to get us up and running. Any donations specifically for the amounts listed above will be used as stated to deliver the service described within one year of the donation. This will let us offer tours or class visits sooner rather than later.  We are so happy to finally have the opportunity to widen our teaching and can't wait to get started!

We don't have our own email address yet so please direct any questions to honeycoop@gmail.com 

Donations by check can be made out to:

Chicago Honey Co-op Training Center

2000 West Carroll, Suite 301
Chicago, IL 60612