Lehigh Valley Beekeepers Association will be having a sweet time on Aug. 22 as the group celebrates National Honey Bee Day at Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, Emmaus.

The group with more than 200 members has been providing the Valley with an appreciation of the honey bees since 1921.

When the local club was formed, bees enjoyed much of what they need to flourish – plenty of native wildflowers.

Honey bees pollinate one-third of the food in America but only produce 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in their lifetime.

Changes in farming and the use of pesticides, however, have changed the landscape for the honey bee and the effects could be disastrous if efforts to stop their decline do not continue.

Lehigh Valley Beekeepers Association members are attempting to make a difference through extensive education, mentoring and insight to assist anyone interested in pursuing this hobby.

Youngsters of all ages can experience role playing inside and outside the beehive during National Honey Bee Day in the fun and educational game "Imagine Me…A Busy, Busy Honey Bee."

Children will receive honey sticks and coloring books.

Visitors can observe a working observation hive with the queen bee laying eggs.

Local beekeepers will explain their equipment, and hourly noon to 3 p.m. they will demonstrate the extraction of raw honey from the hive.

Fresh, raw honey bottled directly from the honey extractor and other honey by-products will be available for sale.

Tours to an on-site apiary will also be given.

In the afternoon, the 2015 Pennsylvania Honey Queen, Jessica Onstead, 22, will be on hand to spread the buzz about honey bees.

She graduated from Somerset Area High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society and recently graduated from The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown with a degree in business economics.

Queen Onstead will travel throughout the state promoting the beekeeping and honey industries by attending schools, fairs, festivals and participating in media interviews.

The Pennsylvania Honey Queen Program is a program of the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association.

Honey bees have sustained farming and gardening for at least 4,500 years, their by-products have helped to save the lives of our soldiers; with health issues from a sore throat to the trauma of burn victims; and in salves used for people and animal health.

The life span of a honey bee in summer is only 6-8 weeks as they fall prey to the everyday turmoil of predators, diseases and the lifestyle of human beings.

With the bee industry so vital to all agriculture and gardening from the small family organic plot to the largest commercial growers that feed much of the world, 98 percent of all who keep honey bees are backyard beekeepers living in towns, cities and suburban areas.

The beekeepers association meets monthly at the Lehigh County Agricultural Center, South Whitehall, publishes a regular newsletter, and sponsors events throughout the year.

Members also manage an apiary on the grounds of Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schnecksville.

For more information, go to lehighvalleybeekeepers.org.

The public is welcome to enjoy beekeeping and honey extraction demonstrations and bottle honey to buy right from the hive.

National Honey Bee Awareness Day will be celebrated 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 22, rain or shine, at Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, 3701 Orchid Place, Emmaus.