Because even the smallest backyard can help save the bees.
Most of us know honeybees are important—but they’re not the only pollinators in town. Native bees like mason bees, leafcutter bees, and carpenter bees play a powerful role in keeping gardens blooming and food systems thriving. But unlike honeybees, these solitary bees don’t live in hives—and they’re losing the natural spaces they rely on.
That’s where bee hotels come in.
🐝 What Is a Bee Hotel?
A bee hotel is a simple structure that offers shelter for solitary bees. It’s usually made from wood or other natural materials, filled with small tunnels or tubes where bees can safely lay their eggs.
Think of it like a birdhouse for bees—only instead of a single nest, it provides dozens of tiny nesting chambers, each used by a single mother bee and her offspring.
No buzzing colonies. No queens. Just quiet, hardworking pollinators doing their part in the ecosystem.
🌾 Why Native Bees Need Our Help
These bees are solitary, meaning they don’t live in hives or defend a colony—which makes them extremely gentle. While female mason and leafcutter bees can sting, it’s rare. Most people interact with them in gardens without ever noticing them, much less being stung.
But native bee populations are declining across Texas and the U.S., largely due to:
- Habitat loss from development and monoculture farming
- Pesticide exposure
- Disease and climate stress
- Lack of awareness about their importance
Unlike honeybees, native bees don’t have beekeepers looking out for them. They rely on hollow stems, old wood, and undisturbed ground to survive—things that are disappearing in many neighborhoods and parks.
By building a bee hotel, you can give them a safe place to nest. And in return, they’ll help pollinate your garden, your community, and the larger ecosystem.
🛠 How to Build One (Kid-Friendly Version)
At Delve Experiences, we offer a hands-on class in the Austin area where kids build their own bee hotels to take home. It’s perfect for homeschoolers, Scout troops, and nature-loving families—and every child leaves with new knowledge and a real impact project in hand.
Here’s what we cover in the class:
- What native bees are and why they matter
- The difference between solitary and social bees
- How pollination works (and why it’s essential for food)
- How to assemble a bee hotel using natural, safe materials
- Where to place your bee hotel for the best chance of success
Each participant builds their own structure, fills it with nesting materials, and learns how to maintain it over time.
➡️ Book a Private Bee Hotel Workshop Near Austin
🧠 What Kids Learn
This experience blends science, sustainability, and creativity. It’s designed for ages 6–12 but is welcoming to curious siblings and families.
Participants come away with:
- A foundational understanding of pollination and biodiversity
- Hands-on building and problem-solving skills
- A sense of ownership and empowerment to care for the natural world
- Their own bee hotel to install at home or school
It’s also a great tie-in for homeschool units on ecosystems, insects, and conservation—and yes, it supports the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) science standards.
🌼 Do Bee Hotels Really Work?
Yes—when done right.
Many native bees (especially mason and leafcutter bees) eagerly take to these human-made shelters, especially when natural nesting sites are scarce. The key is to:
- Use untreated wood and natural materials
- Keep holes 4–8 inches deep and ⅛ to ⅜ inch in diameter
- Mount it securely, about 3–5 feet off the ground
- Place it near flowering plants
- Clean or replace the hotel annually to avoid pests
And even if you don’t see bees right away, you’re still teaching young naturalists to notice, care, and act—skills we need more than ever.
🌻 Start Small, Help Big
A bee hotel won’t save the planet on its own. But it’s a simple, tangible step that gets kids (and adults) thinking differently about nature. And that ripple effect? That’s how change happens.
So whether you build one at home or join a class, we hope you’ll consider giving native bees a place to stay.
