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The Office of Economic Development at SRTC – Bainbridge is planning a week of events to highlight the astonishing impact of bees, including various bee-themed workshops and culminating in a screening of the award-winning documentary “The Pollinators” at the Charles H. Kirbo Center Auditorium.

SRTC Land, Forest, and Wildlife Management instructor Dr. Jeremy Green commented that bee conservation affects everyone. “Bees are vital to every part of the natural ecosystem. 

They are the most prolific pollinator species in the world. Anyone interested in healthy forests, beautiful outdoor recreation areas, or the reliable availability of fresh crops should pay attention what is going on with bees.”

Director of Economic Development Susanne Reynolds said that she planned the weeklong series to “not only educate the community about how important bees are to our lives, but to also bring people together who are interested in sharing resources about protecting bees and beekeeping.” Each of the week’s events will include complimentary Georgia honey sampling.

On Monday, March 16, the week will kick off with a Honey Bee Canvas Painting workshop for individuals 16 years or older with painter Ashley Long at 6pm in the Solarium of the Kirbo Center. The cost for the workshop is $40, and participants should each bring a 16×20 canvas.

On Tuesday, March 17 from 6-7pm, Beekeepers Mitch and Jan Suber will offer a Beekeeping workshop in the dining room of the Kirbo Center. Utilizing an Observation Hive, they will discuss bee behavior, bee and honey handling, and answer questions surrounding beekeeping. This workshop will be offered at no cost to interested individuals. 

On Wednesday, March 18, Savannah Webb will lead a Bee Cookie Decorating class beginning at 5:30pm in the downstairs dining area of SRTC’s Student Wellness Center. Blossoming cookie designers will decorate the tasty pastries, which they may take home or enjoy that evening. The cost for this class will be $5 for students with a valid student ID, or $10 for the general public.

The finale of Bee Week will be Georgia’s first screening of the multiple-award-winning film “The Pollinators.” The documentary film is a cinematic journey around the United States following migratory beekeepers and their truckloads of honeybees as they pollinate the flowers that become the fruits, nuts and vegetables that Americans eat, according to director Peter Nelson. Some of the recent awards that the film has won include the Rob Stewart Eco Warrior Award at the Vancouver International Film Festival, the People’s Choice Award at the Reading Film Fest, the Director’s Award for Cinematography at the Woods Hole Film Festival, and the Gaia Prize for Environmental Filmmaking at the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival. Film Critic Jay Seaver said that Nelson created a film that is “full of fascinating information about a part of the industry that is invisible and unknown to the general public.”

The screening will take place in the Kirbo Center. Showtime is 6:30 on the evening of March 19. General admission is $5 in advance or $8 at the door. Tickets are complimentary for students with a valid student ID.

For more information on any of these events, and to register or purchase tickets, please contact Susanne Reynolds: (229) 243-3011 or sreynolds@southernregional.edu.