Experienced apiarists, “wanna-bee” keepers and families looking for some educational fun in the sun recently swarmed the grounds of the Wildlands Conservancy, Emmaus, to share in the activities of National Honey Bee Day.

The event, hosted by the Lehigh Valley Beekeepers Association, included something for everyone with the opportunity to learn hands-on tips and techniques from local experts.

An indoor observation beehive provided a close-up view into the inner workings of a hive as well as a swarm of facts and figures about the honey bee.

The ob-hive is maintained year-round by the LVBA.

Outside, children and adults alike participated in the role-playing activity, “Imagine me…A Busy, Busy Honey Bee.”

They experienced a day in the life of the honey bees both inside and outside of the hive.

LVBA member Ron Bogansky assigned each participant a job in the hive, from the female queen bee and the male drone to the working bees that forage, transport, build and guard.

Everyone had to work together to gather pollen (small tubes of honey) from the flowers and deliver them safely back to the hive.

“There are all sorts of different bees that do different jobs,” Bogansky explained. “Most of us can learn a lesson from the honey bees.

“These insects live together in seemingly perfect harmony, with a system of communicating and surviving still not entirely understood by the much farther evolved human race.”

The 2015 Pennsylvania Honey Queen, Jessica Onstead, 22, was also found buzzing around the grounds, answering questions and educating folks on all things bee.

A graduate of The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Onstead travels the state to increase awareness of the importance of honey bees and to foster interest in beekeeping.

Inside (or away from any potentially hungry bees), LVBA President Steve Finke demonstrated equipment used to extract raw honey from hive frames and answered questions from the audience.

Following the extraction process, participants filled their own bottles of honey to take home.

Also available to view and purchase were a variety beeswax items, such as candles, soaps and lip balm.

Beekeepers stress it’s a win-win-win situation.

The bees are happy and well-cared for, doing what they do best, supplying food for larvae and sustaining their hive.

The beekeepers enjoy helping maintain a healthy hive and reap the extra benefits of natural by-products, such as honey and wax.

And everyone benefits from the service of the bees as they pollinate crops and provide food.

With the advent of fall, just as a farmer reaps the year’s final crops, beekeepers, too, are busy harvesting the last of this season’s honey.

Fittingly, September is “National Honey Month.”

In the beekeeping world, it’s a time to celebrate the natural pureness of honey, but also a time to consider the very real and urgent plight of the honey bee.

The Lehigh Valley Beekeepers Association attempts to make a difference through extensive education, mentoring and insight to assist anyone in pursuing the hobby of beekeeping.

The group meets monthly, 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.