Key Takeaways
- UW‑Oshkosh earned Bee Campus USA certification in 2024, requiring measurable pollinator habitats, education, and reduced pesticide use.
- Students in the Sustainable Beekeeping Club (SBC) map habitats, track events, and conduct hive inspections to support the certification report.
- GIS mapping identified roughly 2.3 acres of pollinator‑friendly plantings, including a half‑acre added in 2025.
- Collaboration across faculty, grounds staff, and students has improved communication and coordination for campus sustainability initiatives.
- Club activities provide hands‑on experience in beekeeping, data collection, and community outreach through planting events and bee‑hotel projects.
Campus Certification Overview
UW‑Oshkosh achieved Bee Campus USA certification in 2024, a designation that obligates the university to maintain pollinator habitats, limit pesticide applications, provide educational programming, and engage students, faculty, and staff in ongoing conservation efforts. The rigorous application required detailed information on habitat acreage, courses that mention pollinators, and comprehensive land‑use documentation.
Student‑Led Habitat Mapping
This spring, students partnered with the biology department and grounds crew to produce a GIS map of every pollinator habitat on campus. Their work catalogued nearly 2.3 acres of flowering plantings and documented a newly added half‑acre of native species in 2025. The map serves as a baseline for future growth and for the annual Bee Campus USA reporting deadline.
Roles of the Sustainable Beekeeping Club The Sustainable Beekeeping Club (SBC) is a cornerstone of the certification report. Club leaders Hannah Bott and Alyssa Bohn logged every pollinator‑related event on campus and tracked attendance throughout the academic year. Their meticulous record‑keeping illustrates how student initiatives align with institutional sustainability goals.
Hands‑On Beekeeping Experience
SBC members engage in weekly hive inspections during the summer and bi‑weekly checks during the semester. Each hive contains ten frames that host roughly 2,500 bees per frame, totaling about 25,000 bees per colony. Through smoker use, frame removal, and brood monitoring, students acquire practical skills in hive health assessment, honey storage analysis, and population management.
Educational Outreach and Community Engagement
Beyond hive maintenance, the club educates the broader campus community about pollinator importance. Last year, SBC organized a native‑planting event near the campus hives, inviting students, staff, local Girl Scouts, and community members to participate. Demonstrations included hive‑box tours, honeycomb displays, and suit‑wearing activities that sparked interest across age groups.
Interdepartmental Committee Collaboration
The Bee Campus USA certification spurred the formation of a cross‑functional committee composed of faculty, teaching staff, students, grounds personnel, and the sustainability office. The committee meets regularly to discuss habitat restoration, land‑use planning, and pesticide reduction strategies, fostering continual dialogue among previously siloed departments.
Benefits of Improved Communication
Shannon Davis‑Foust, senior lecturer in biology and environmental studies and SBC advisor, emphasizes that one of the most valuable outcomes of certification is the strengthened communication channels across campus. Regular meetings have cultivated a shared vocabulary for sustainability initiatives and have motivated collaborative problem‑solving.
GIS Mapping Results and Habitat Expansion
Through Brady Pomplun’s technical assistance, the mapping project quantified 2.3 acres of pollinator‑friendly plantings, with a notable addition of nearly half an acre in 2025. This quantitative data not only satisfies reporting requirements but also guides future planting decisions and habitat enhancement priorities.
Future Projects and Bee‑Hotel Initiatives
Looking ahead, SBC plans to replace and upgrade bee hotels along the WIOUWASH Trail adjacent to campus. Members will establish a monitoring schedule to evaluate usage rates and assess the impact of these structures on native bee populations. Such data will inform ongoing habitat improvement strategies and broaden the university’s pollinator conservation footprint.
Broader Ecological Significance
Davis‑Foust underscores that pollinators occupy a critical niche in ecosystem stability, enabling the reproduction of flowering plants that, in turn, support food webs for birds and other wildlife. Habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and declining insect numbers make university‑led conservation efforts increasingly vital, especially in urban settings.
Student Passion and Sustainable Advocacy
For Hannah Bott, initial curiosity about the club evolved into a deep commitment to sustainability and pollinator advocacy. She notes that the experience extends beyond honey‑bee stewardship to encompass advocacy for native flora and fauna, reflecting a holistic approach to environmental health.
Conclusion and Institutional Commitment
The Bee Campus USA certification reflects both UW‑Oshkosh’s progress and its enduring dedication to sustainability. By integrating student research, hands‑on beekeeping, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community education, the university positions itself as a model for pollinator‑friendly campuses and demonstrates that continuous improvement is achievable through collective effort.