Friday

Introduction to Wild Bees

4:00 pm - Check-in at your respective lodge. If you arrive early, explore the Appalachian Forest Museum’s trails and stunning forest murals.

5:30 pm - Dinner on the Deck

Bring your own picnic-style dinner and service settings as we gather on the Appalachian Forest Museum deck. This informal dinner will give you the opportunity to meet course leaders, assistants (Cali & Denise), and fellow participants as we kick off the program.

6:30 pm - Evening Program: Introduction to Wild Bees

Learn about the diversity, life cycles, and ecological importance of wild bees. This program will introduce the incredible and varied natural histories of the bees found in this unique ecosystem in the temperate forests of the east.

Saturday

Bees of the Arc's Habitats

8:00 am - Please eat breakfast at your lodge before we depart for a morning tour through the Highlands Nature Sanctuary

9:00 am - Highlands Nature Sanctuary: Arc Bees and Floral Associations - part 1

Explore meadows buzzing with bees and learn how to distinguish commonly seen groups from each other.  Spend some time observing bees in action, and learning about the critical role they play in pollinating the many and varied flowers of the region.

12:00 pm - Break for Lunch

1:30 pm - Highlands Nature Sanctuary: Arc Bees and Floral Associations - part 2

Venture to a different preserve in the afternoon to explore new habitats and observe how bee communities shift across landscapes. Compare floral associations in diverse environments and deepen your understanding of pollination dynamics in the region.

We will continue exploring in another preserve for the afternoon.

4:00 pm - Break for Dinner - Participants will return to their lodge for rest & dinner.

7:00 pm - Community Lecture - Ticketed Event - at the Appalachian Forest Museum

Special ticketed presentation, open to the community as well as workshop participants. Admission is included for workshop participants.

Love at First Flight: Wild Bees and the Flowers They Adore

Join us for an engaging lecture exploring the fascinating world of wild bees and the plants they pollinate. Discover how these tiny, tireless pollinators and blooming flowers intricately engage—each seeking what they need to survive, yet together creating the breathtaking floral landscapes we see each year.  Dr. Olivia Carril will discuss specialized bees and the flowers they rely on, the unique shapes and scents of the blossoms we treasure, and the incredible role each member of a plant-pollinator network plays in sustaining the base of Ohio's food webs.  Most of all, she will remind us of the lessons we have to learn from the natural world around us: the value of beauty, individuality, and connection.

Sunday

8:00 am: Please eat breakfast at your lodge before checking out of your lodge and meeting at the Appalachian Forest Museum.

9:00 am: Join your assigned small group to review what you have learned. Alongside your designated partners, you'll take a walk through a nearby nature preserve, observing native plants and practicing your skills in identifying local bees and their behaviors, supported by the mentorship of your newly established friends.

11:00 am : Review and Quiz

12:00 pm : Lunch served at the Appalachian Forest Museum.

Depart for home