Borne of a shared passion for protecting pollinators, The Bee Cause Project has grown far beyond the hive; we teach collaboration, inspire curiosity, and foster STEAM skills through discovery-based learning in schools around the world.
Our Story
On its own, the average worker bee only produces about 1/12 teaspoon of honey in its lifetime. Yet an entire hive of bees can make anywhere from 20 to 60 pounds of honey each year. In this and so many other ways, the bees show us the power of collective impact – a concept at the heart of The Bee Cause Project.
Ted Dennard, a lifelong beekeeper and the Founder of Savannah Bee Company, and Tami Enright, a fellow beekeeper and environmental educator, had both dedicated their lives to protecting pollinators; Ted in Georgia and Tami in South Carolina. After being introduced by a mutual friend, the two heeded the lessons of their beloved bees, joining forces to grow their impact.
Soon after installing our first observation hive at Sullivans Island Elementary School, The Bee Cause Project became a 501c3 and was invited to be a 5% Give Back recipient at the Charleston Whole Foods Market. That local support was pivotal, paving the way for our national partnership with Whole Kids Foundation. Alongside our sponsors, beekeepers, educators and community members, we have since provided Bee Grants to over 500 schools and organizations, impacting hundreds of children (and adults!) across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
One conversation grew into a shared mission. One hive became a network of many. Just like the noble bee, with hard work, dedication, and a collaborative spirit, The Bee Cause Project continues to grow our collective impact.
Our Mission
The Bee Cause Project seeks to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards while protecting our planet’s precious pollinators.
Conservationist John Muir said, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” Our observational hives, STEAM curriculum, and beekeeping resources strengthen the connection to our shared environment with pollinators and enable bees and curious minds alike to thrive.
Our Work
Bee Grants
We believe that the best way to help people and pollinators thrive is through hands-on learning and community. With the support of our partners, we provide grants to help schools and organizations install and maintain their own observation hives. These hives are an invaluable tool to inspire creativity, teach collaboration, and cultivate critical thinking and STEAM skills in observers of all ages.
Resources
The honeybee is not born knowing how to make honey; the younger bees are taught by the more experienced ones. Whether you are a Bee Grant partner, a beekeeper, or a community member ready to get engaged with our mission, The Bee Cause Project is dedicated to providing you with the resources you need to succeed. These include at-home pollinator tips, fundraising tools, and comprehensive curriculum for teachers and hive owners.
Community Network
Watch any busy beehive for a few minutes and you’ll quickly see: we are most powerful and productive when we work together. Connect with fellow Bee Grant recipients, Bee Advocates, and Bee Cause community members on our Facebook group or explore our Hive map to find local schools and organizations who can help you in your pollinator pursuits.
Our Impact in 2023
The work we do at The Bee Cause Project is important. This work, which has the ability to touch millions of people worldwide, forward global efforts to build a more sustainable food system, and most importantly, grow the next generation of environmental stewards, was made possible by our dedicated partners. We are so thankful for the work their support allowed us accomplished in 2023. See our 2023 Impact Report and reach out to see how you can make 2024 – and beyond – even more impactful!
Our Founders
Tami Enright
Tami began beekeeping while looking for engaging ways to teach her four children about ecology. Soon after installing two hives in her garden on Isle of Palms, SC, Tami’s backyard beekeeping hobby blossomed into a new calling. She began teaching apiculture at a local school, developing the vision for what would later become The Bee Cause Project. As our Co-Founder and Executive Director, Tami develops our experiential STEAM curriculum, and oversees our growing hive of schools, sponsors, and community partners who help build a future for the next generation.
Ted Dennard
For Ted Dennard, the love of bees is way of life. When he was just 12 years-old, a beekeeper in his hometown of St. Simon’s Island, Georgia introduced him to honey and apiculture. Ted was captivated; he kept bees in high school and college, taught beekeeping to village farmers in Jamaica through the Peace Corps, and studied native beekeeping practices in New Zealand, Vietnam, Ireland, and France before founding The Savannah Bee Company. A lifelong student of and advocate for the noble bee, Ted co-founded The Bee Cause Project to continue educating children and adults alike about the important role honeybees play in our shared environment. Watch his TEDxTalk here.