While options for summer camps are aplenty, Ekya school in Bengaluru is offering its students an innovative summer assignment- to raise bees.

To encourage sustainability initiatives and promote the importance of environmental conservation, Ekya Schools has collaborated with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in their one-of-a-kind ‘Bee Hotels’ initiative.

Interested students from all five branches of Ekya have opted for the Bee Hotel and will be participating in the activity. These bee hotels will be looked after by the students during the summer vacation.

This initiative targets studying solitary bees in Bengaluru. Experts believe that unlike honeybees, solitary bees do not build hives or display any aggressive behaviour, making it safe for children.

Ekya School Byrathi hosted an interactive talk about conserving biodiversity in cities where students interacted with researchers from ATREE.

Dr Tristha Ramamurthy, Founder of Ekya Schools and Provost, CMR University, said, “We have introduced the Bee Hotels as we firmly believe in the importance of transcending the limits of the classroom and raising our students’ awareness of the world they inhabit. Moreover, the Bee Hotel initiative engages the entire family by facilitating collective learning about sustainability and conservation”.

“We believe that our students must understand the impact of their actions on the environment,” said Smriti Agarwal, Head of School, Ekya School Byrathi. “By implementing this initiative, we are not only creating a secure environment for bees but also educating our students about the significance of sustainability and conservation.”

Students will be recording their observations on the Bee Hotel App. These observations will help further the research program at ATREE to integrate these important pollinators into urban life.

Also Read: Karnataka: Second PU toppers believe solving model papers helped them ace exam