We are tremendously happy that you are willing to bring your presentation to our school; the teachers and students absolutely love it! The students talk about their experience with you for days and remember it for much longer.

You are a great speaker, and you made your presentation very understandable and interesting.

<h2>Maple Syrup</h2> In a classroom presentation we (my wife comes along to assist) set up in an open classroom or library room with our projector and screen and all our maple syrup making paraphernalia. We bring pans, leaves, branches of maple trees and other types, and a log with spiles and hammer so kids can try "tapping" a tree. Total presentation plus activity time is about 50 minutes. I speak for about 35 minutes about the history of maple syrup making starting with the native American Indians through the European settlers who learned from the Indians and improved on their methods to current day techniques for making maple syrup. I show and tell how to know if a tree is a maple tree with it's leaves on or without them. I perform my favorite native American Indian legend about maple syrup and teach how the clear watery sap of a maple tree can be turned into the sweet, golden maple syrup so many of us enjoy. Plus, we end by serving vanilla ice cream topped with sweet maple syrup! <a href="/contact" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Contact us</a> for pricing and availability.

Teachers - Maple Syrup

<h2>Honey Bees</h2> Most folks are fascinated by honey bees. Some are frightened of them, but as I educate and entertain people about this amazing creature I see them relax and realize how amazing honey bees are. It is not uncommon for me to hear from a child, "I am not going to be so afraid of honey bees anymore." Or I will see a parent who's child is mesmerized by the live bees in my observation hive. Then I smile at the parents who say, "This one was petrified of honey bees and that is why we came here to your presentation—now look. We can't get him/her to leave."

General Public - Honey Bees

<h2>Maple Syrup</h2> In late winter the woods look dead or at least fast asleep. But, it is not so. When the temperatures rise above freezing in daytime and go below freezing at night the sap begins to flow! It is an exciting time for maple syrup makers and I love telling all about it to kids, adults, and families.

General Public - Maple Syrup

<h2>Honey Bees</h2> Through an entertaining honey bee education﻿al presentation, the audience will:<ul class="list-disc list-inside list-indent"><li>Learn about the three types of bees in a hive and their respective roles.</li><li>Understand the life cycle of a honey bee from egg to larva to capped brood to adult bee.</li><li>Appreciate the process of pollination and the importance of honey bees to our food supply.</li><li>Understand how bees find nectar and process it into honey.</li><li>Realize how honey is harvested.</li><li>Learn of the nutritious and medicinal qualities of honey.</li><li>Discover the uses for beeswax.</li><li>Participate in a question and answer session.</li></ul> After the presentation, at three stations, the audience will:<ul class="list-disc list-inside list-indent"><li>Examine live bees in an observation hive (seasonal, usually from May to September).</li><li>Taste honey from our hives.</li><li>Craft a hand rolled beeswax candle.</li></ul> While the typical honey bee educational seminar consists of one complete hour, the content of the presentation can be modified to best suit the age of your audience. Prices vary based on travel expenses, supplies needed, etc. Please <a href="/contact" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">contact us</a> for pricing. A certificate of insurance can be provided upon request.

Librarians - Honey Bees

<h2>Maple Syrup</h2> In a maple syrup presentation I perform the native American legend of how people first “discovered” maple syrup and how sap has been collected, stored, and boiled down to produce sweet syrup or maple sugar throughout history. I teach how to identify a maple tree with or without its leaves. I talk about what sap is, why sugar is in it, and what makes it flow inside a tree. I also mention how old and thick a maple tree must be to tap it. I provide pictures on a screen showing many of the products and processes about which I speak. All participants are allowed to try tap, tap, tapping a"tree" with the spiles and small hammer provided. Please <a href="/contact" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">contact us</a> for pricing and availability.

Librarians - Maple Syrup

<h2>Honey Bees</h2> A school room presentation consists of about 50 minutes in total. Most schools provide an empty classroom or library in which we (my wife comes along to assist) set up all our paraphernalia, projector and screen etc. I present for about 35 minutes and then we divide students into three groups. Students in each group make a hand rolled beeswax candle, see live honey bees (in season) safely in the observation hive, and taste honey from our hives and/or fill in a coloring page. Some classes prefer not to taste honey due to stickiness or possible food allergies. After the 50 minute session the kids move out of the room and in 5 to 10 minutes the next group of kids moves in for its presentation. We can provide up to three presentations in a row using this format. Class sizes of 35 or fewer work best with this method. A certificate of insurance can be provided by Thornapple Woodlands, LLC prior to our visit when requested. Pricing varies based on school location etc., so <a href="/contact" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">contact us</a> for pricing.

Teachers - Honey Bees

<h3>Librarians</h3> It is a thrill for me to visit libraries and provide entertaining, fast paced presentations that keep the interest of all participants. In general I recommend ages 6 and up but if a library wants a very young children's show that can be done, too. My presentations appeal to children, teens/tweens and adults and I thoroughly enjoy speaking to family audiences, too. I adjust my presentation content and style to match the ages of those in attendance. If your library participates in the annual reading program theme, I offer specialized program content and titles to incorporate the theme into my programs if that is something your library desires. Advertising write-ups and pictures are available to make promotion of our programs a breeze. Presentation options: In person (when allowed), online prerecorded, online live, online prerecorded with an online live question and answer session afterwards. If your library is involved with the Mideastern Michigan Library Co-op please book through MMLC. Independent libraries and those in a co-op at whose showcase event I have not performed can <a href="/contact" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">contact me directly</a> for pricing and availability. Invite me to perform at your Library Co-op Showcase Event and receive special showcase event pricing for all libraries in the co-op. Thank you for your interest in our presentations!

Librarians

<h3>School Teachers</h3> Whether it is a program about honey bees or maple syrup, my presentations are a fabulous addition to your teaching curriculum. It is a thrill for me to fully engage students in the topic about which I am speaking. I keep things fairly fast paced and entertaining using props and hand and body motions to keep kids interested. The pictures on the screen behind me as I speak are (mostly) my own photos which illustrate the things I am describing. I would love to participate in the education and entertainment of your students. <a href="/contact" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Contact me </a>for pricing and availability. If a live, in-person show is not an option consider a virtual program which could be prerecorded, online live, or prerecorded with an online live question and answer session after the presentation.

School Teachers

<h3>General Public</h3> If you have a venue or an event that needs a dynamic, interesting, passionate speaker you have come to the right place. I have been a beekeeper since 2006 and have made maple syrup since about 2002. In around 2008 I performed my first honey bee program for the public and it lit a fire in me that remains unquenched. I love presenting about honey bees and maple syrup! Many times I have heard comments like, "I had to drag my husband here to do something with the family, but he absolutely loved it! Thank you!" Saving marriages with honey bees and maple syrup. I love it! <a href="/contact" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Contact us</a> for pricing and availability.