Watch the bees at this seasonal observation beehive!
Be sure to check out our seasonal observation beehive! Learn the bee dance, look for the queen, and get an up-close view of worker bees buzzing into the hive with pollen.
Where?
Third Floor
Access Info
• A wheelchair can fit on either side of the observation hive;
• The signage is at an ADA compliant height.
CMTM has featured Carolina honeybees for many years to introduce children and families to their important role in our ecosystem and to teach about native and non-native pollinators. Our observation hive, with its glass exposure, allows children (and adults, too!) to observe honey bees within just a few inches from where they make honey, clean and care for the queen’s eggs, make beeswax, and crawl out through their tunnel to find nectar around the Portland peninsula.
The hive is used to share the ins and outs of the magical world of honeybees; it is also a place where our visitors learn that honeybees aren’t quite as scary as they seem. We often hear our youngest visitors say, “No! I don’t want them to sting me!” The observation hive is a wonderful way for children to learn not to be afraid of honeybees. Instead, our bee educational program helps children develop empathy for bees and other animals in the natural world.
Summer Sustainability Program Sponsor
From June to September 2023, CMTM’s Watershed Exploration Programming, Visiting Scientists Program, and Pollinator Program are brought to you through a generous partnership with one of Maine’s leading sustainability stewards, L.L.Bean.
Please join us in thanking L.L.Bean for their ongoing commitment to the outdoors, and children and families across the state.