The Boys & Girls Club was buzzing with excitement last week as Club members welcomed Sonya Sappington, a local beekeeper, for an up-close look at the fascinating world of pollination.
A member of the Stony Brook Garden Club Sonya, who is also a commercial sunflower grower and honey producer at her Nine Acre Farm in Skillman, N, transformed the Club into a mini bee education center, giving kids a unique opportunity to see and learn about the incredible creatures that help vegetables, fruits, honey, chocolate, and more grow.
Sonya arrived with an impressive setup, including a honey extractor, a hive smoker, a child-sized bee suit, and a full-size hive (empty for safety). The highlight of the day was her observation hive, which allowed Club members to safely watch live bees through glass.
As the bees busily worked inside their hive, Sonya explained the roles of each bee — from worker bees gathering nectar, to drones caring for the hive, and the queen bee who keeps everything running smoothly.
Adding to the fun, volunteers from the Stony Brook Garden Club led bee-themed games and learning sessions in the classrooms. Kids enjoyed playing Bee Bingo, solving word search puzzles, and discovering fun facts about pollinators and plants. Members also learned how bees communicate through “waggle dances,” how honey is made, and why pollinators are so vital to our food supply and planet.
Ana, age 10, particularly enjoyed trying on the child-sized beekeeper suit. “My favorite part was learning about how the whole colony works together,” she shared.
The afternoon was not only fun but also a meaningful lesson that inspired curiosity and encouraged care for nature.
The Boys & Girls Club extends its gratitude to Sonya and the Stony Brook Garden Club for sharing their time, knowledge, and passion with our members.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. We provide a safe places for youth to learn and grow, build ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals, and participate in life-enhancing programs. Our goal is to inspire and prepare all Mercer County youth to reach their full potential and achieve their dreams. Operations are centered around our two Clubhouses—212 Centre Street in Trenton and 1040 Spruce Street in Lawrence—and we also provide after-school programs at seven area public schools in the Trenton and Ewing districts, serving some 1,500 youth across 28 schools throughout Mercer County.
About the Stonybrook Garden Club
Stony Brook Garden Club, founded in 1939 and a member of The Garden Club of America since 1945, fosters knowledge and passion for horticulture, floral design, photography, and environmental conservation. Through hands-on workshops, field trips, and community projects such as Growing Future Gardeners, the club contributes to the beauty and vitality of the greater Princeton area, promotes civic and cultural engagement and supports conservation with scholarships and charitable giving that is dedicated to enriching lives and landscapes.