Bee School, Modules 5 & 6: From Frustration to Fascination - Oct 19, 2025

I’ve officially completed Bee School — every module, every assignment, every challenge — and I’m now waiting for my final grades. These last two modules, Intro to Taxonomy & Curating Your First Collection of Bees and Bee Biology 101, felt like the perfect conclusion to an unforgettable journey. They pushed me beyond frustration into fascination, from seeing bees as simple pollinators to understanding them as vital, intricate beings woven into the very fabric of life on Earth.

Module 5: Intro to Taxonomy & Curating Your First Collection

This was, without a doubt, the most frustrating module for me. The level of detail and precision required in taxonomy is intense — from identifying species to ensuring every label is correct. But by the end, I understood its importance.

Proper taxonomy is what gives meaning to the Bee Atlas projects in both British Columbia and Oregon. Every accurately labeled bee tells a story: where it was found, what plant it visited, what conditions it lived in. Those stories become data — and data drives action. The right data means we can take targeted steps to protect specific bee species and the ecosystems they depend on.

It’s humbling to realize how everything is connected. Bees aren’t just pollinators — they’re part of a delicate web that supports entire ecosystems, including our own. And as tedious as labeling sometimes felt, I found pride in knowing that my small contributions are part of something much larger and lasting.

Module 6: Bee Biology 101

Module 6 was, without a doubt, my favorite part of Bee School. The instructor was fantastic—clear, engaging, and passionate—and the content tied everything I’d learned together. With each lesson, my understanding deepened and my appreciation grew.

This final module invited me to step into the inner world of bees—their biology, their life cycles, and their relationships with the ecosystems that sustain them. With every topic, I realized just how little I once knew. Most of us grow up fearing bees, and yes, I’ve been stung once or twice myself, but now I understand the why.

Can you imagine being such a small creature with such a critically important job? Out in the big, unpredictable world, facing pesticides, parasites, habitat loss, and climate change—all while keeping our ecosystems alive? Bees live extraordinary lives of purpose and resilience.

Here, I also met the bee families that form the foundation of North American biodiversity—each one fascinating in its own way:

• Apidae, the well-known family that includes honeybees and bumblebees.

• Andrenidae, the solitary ground-nesting bees who work quietly beneath our feet.

• Colletidae, the “cellophane” bees that line their nests with a waterproof secretion to protect their young.

• Halictidae, the metallic “sweat bees” that shimmer like living jewels in the sunlight.

• Megachilidae, the clever leafcutter and mason bees—the architects of the bee world.

• Melittidae, the rare specialists with deep, intimate connections to specific plants.

Learning about my favorite bees—the bumbles—alongside these other remarkable families gave me a whole new lens on the natural world. Each family plays a unique role, and together they form a web of life that keeps our planet blooming.

Now, when I see a bee in flight, I don’t just see a pollinator. I see an individual from a vast, intricate lineage—a survivor, a worker, and a vital thread in Earth’s tapestry. My fear has been replaced with awe, and my appreciation runs deeper than ever before.

Reflections

Completing Bee School has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. From the frustration of learning taxonomy to the wonder of understanding bee biology, I’ve been transformed by what I’ve learned.

At the beginning, I questioned whether I was “smart enough” for this kind of study. But every challenge brought a breakthrough, and every module opened another door of awareness. Knowledge has truly changed the way I see the world.

Now, when I step outside, I notice things I never used to — the hum of a bumblebee in a patch of clover, the shimmer of a sweat bee in the sun, the way wildflowers sway with quiet purpose. I stop, I watch, and I silently whisper, thank you.

Bees have taught me patience, respect, and connection. They’ve reminded me that even the smallest lives have extraordinary purpose.

Bee School may be complete, but my journey as a Bee Conservation Guardian is only beginning.

Thank you to the Oregon State University Master Melittologist Program for this incredible experience. The world of bees has forever changed the way I see life — one tiny wingbeat at a time.