Aspiring Staten Island Beekeepers: Bee U NYC Offering Hands-On Paid Fellowship In Beekeeping For Students 16-24
Editor’s note: A couple of years back, the NYC DOT announced that they were installing Bee Bunkers and Bee Hotels in open streets and public plazas, in order to provide safe resting and living spaces for bees and other pollinators to encourage them to stay and pollinate the plants in the city. In addition, in Nature’s Best Hope, Doug Tallamy talked about his experience in New York City’s High Line Park in Brooklyn, which has become a refuge for many bees and other pollinators, who can be seen buzzing around as the people stroll through the park space area.
We asked several questions of this organization. Questions and answers are below:
The Urban Beekeeping Fellowship is not designed to turn every participant into a beekeeper. Instead, we use urban beekeeping as a gateway to introduce young people to broader environmental issues, leadership development, and the wide range of careers within the green economy. Through hands-on learning, Fellows gain exposure to fields such as environmental education, urban agriculture, conservation, sustainability, climate advocacy, and even policy and community organizing. Beekeeping becomes a tool to spark curiosity and open pathways, rather than an endpoint.What is the current need for skilled beekeepers?
Urban beekeeping is still relatively new in New York City, but it continues to grow in popularity as more communities invest in green spaces and environmental stewardship. That said, our goal is not necessarily to push Fellows toward becoming professional beekeepers. Instead, we focus on building transferable skills such as leadership, communication, teamwork, and confidence. Beekeeping challenges participants to step outside of their comfort zones and engage directly with the natural world, helping them build a deeper connection to the environment and to new possibilities within it.
Is there a certain number of students awarded in each borough, or is it an overall total number?
We aim to enroll approximately 15 students per borough, allowing us to build strong, cohort-based experiences in each community while maintaining a high level of support and engagement.
How many applications do you usually get?
The Urban Beekeeping Fellowship is a competitive program. We typically see a strong volume of applications each year, with an acceptance rate of approximately 20–30 percent.
What’s the most exciting part about the practice of beekeeping?
One of the most powerful aspects of beekeeping is the socio-emotional growth we see in our participants. Many Fellows begin the program feeling nervous or even afraid to approach a hive. Over time, through consistent exposure and support, that fear transforms into confidence. By the end of the Fellowship, participants are not only comfortable working with bees but also often leading hive demonstrations and teaching others. Watching that transformation, from hesitation to leadership, is one of the most exciting and meaningful parts of the work.
Are there any stories of how beekeeping can help restore ecosystems?
While honeybees are not native to the United States, they are unique in that they live in highly organized, communal colonies. This makes them an accessible and powerful entry point for education. By studying honeybees, students begin to understand pollination, biodiversity, and the interconnectedness of ecosystems. That understanding naturally expands to include native pollinators, plants, and broader environmental systems. Through urban beekeeping, we help young people make these connections, inspiring them to think more holistically about ecosystem health and their role in protecting it.
Bee U NYC is a non-profit organization that engages urban communities through hands-on training in beekeeping, leadership, and environmental advocacy.
We are launching our fifth season of the Urban Beekeeping Fellowship! This year, Bee U NYC will facilitate three Cohorts: Cohort Brooklyn, Cohort Staten Island, and Cohort The Bronx. This one-of-a-kind program is designed to take students, ages 16-24, on a three-month journey to learn basic skills in urban beekeeping, dive deep into contemporary environmental issues, facilitate environmental action projects, and become exposed to careers in the green economy.
The Urban Beekeeping Fellow can earn up to $1,000!
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$60 per Workshop ($660 for 11 Mandatory Workshops)
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$100 Transportation Stipend
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$20 per Optional Session (up to 11); $220 total
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$20 to open an Investment/Savings Account
Program Schedule & Location:
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Cohort Brooklyn: Once a week on Saturday afternoons from 11:30 – 3:30 PM at Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn from May 30 to August 15.
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Cohort The Bronx: Once a week on Saturday afternoons from 11:30 – 3:30 PM at Oyate Group/La Finca Del Sur in The Bronx from May 30 to August 15.
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Cohort Staten Island: Once a week on Sunday afternoons from 11:30 – 3:30 PM at MakerSpace NYC on Staten Island from May 31 to August 15.
Fellows will also participate in off-site activities, and start/end times may vary depending on activities. Optional Sessions will take place weekly from Tuesday to Thursday.
If you know any students who would be interested in applying, please direct them to our application on our website.
The application deadline for the Urban Beekeeping Fellowship is Sunday, April 12
See below for the event flyer:
Banner Image: Beekeeper. Image Credit – Bianca Ackermann
Bee U NYC
Bee U NYC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that engages urban communities through hands-on training in beekeeping, leadership, and environmental advocacy. Our vision is for urban communities to be intentionally exposed to careers in the green jobs industry through the practice of beekeeping and environmental stewardship.
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