Minneapolis Parks Offers Up Close Look At Bees

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Many of us do what we can to avoid the sting of a honey bee, but more and more people are starting hobby hives.

The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Department has a unique program that lets you dabble in beekeeping. They're offering a class on it at Theodore Wirth Park.

All people who sign up for the classes will get put into a full bee suit, letting them get up close and personal with the bees without the full risk of getting stung. The classes are about 90 minutes at different parks around Minneapolis.

The city has been offering the class for two years and it's getting more popular with time. Bees are important, experts said, because they pollenate many things we eat and they're social insects.

Currently there's concern about bees dying off because of a lack of flowers for them to eat and pesticides out there that are harmful. There's a lot of things out there to harm bees, and this class offers a way to learn about things that will help the bee population.

The class meets once per month throughout the summer.