The purpose of the 4-H Educational Grant Program shall be to provide education, instruction and beekeeping practice for 4-H members and to foster cooperation between local NCSBA Chapters and their respective NC State Cooperative Extension Office.
To get started, an NCSBA chapter must agree to the guidelines below and submit a grant application to the program coordinators on behalf of a local 4-H chapter. To be considered, the applications should be completed and submitted after January 1 of each year and prior to the NCSBA spring meeting. Funds may or may not be available for applications submitted after the spring meeting and before the end of each year.
The spirit of the grant program is for the NCSBA chapter to endeavor to partner with the Extension agent and 4-H chapter leaders in order to provide beekeeping education and practice for 4-H participants. Basic records should be kept of the activities of the participants. The 4-H chapter should be encouraged to submit information/photos of activities and progress for publication in the Bee Buzz or NCSBA website/social media.
The local NCSBA chapter should have volunteers willing to help the 4-H chapter with instruction as well as make available honey bees and hives to use for their program. The NCSBA chapter can be reimbursed up to $500 by the NCSBA for the purchase of protective gear (including beekeeping suits, hats, veils, gloves, hive tools and smokers) and educational materials such as books or videos. Chapters will not be reimbursed for the purchase of honey bees, hive components, instructor fees, travel expenses or any other items.
At the completion of your project you may be asked to evaluate your programs effectiveness. This information will be used to make improvements to other projects requesting funding.
If you have any questions please contact Gary and Hilda Winebarger at 4h@ncbeekeepers.org
Complete Guidelines
These rules shall apply to any future disbursement of grant funds.
- The information posted on the 4-H Educational Grant webpage and any information contained in the application shall be considered to be part of the guidelines.
- NCSBA chapters must submit requests to the NCSBA 4-H Educational Grant Program on behalf of a local 4-H chapter. The NCSBA chapter will endeavor to partner with a local 4-H chapter in order to provide beekeeping education and practice for 4-H participants.
- The purpose of the program is to provide education and beekeeping practice for 4-H members and foster cooperation between the local NCSBA chapter and the local county Cooperative Extension office.
- The 4-H grant will be administered through a local chapter of the NCSBA.
- An application will be developed by the NSCBA and made available by the 4-H Educational Grant Program coordinators or NCSBA Regional Director.
- Guidelines for the program will set forth by the NCSBA President and 4-H educational grant program.
- A chapter may only be awarded a grant twice and not in consecutive years. To be considered for a second grant, the chapter must have followed all guidelines and be able to account for all items purchased with the initial grant funds.
- Chapters will be reimbursed up to $500 for the purchase of protective gear (including beekeeping suits, hats, veils, gloves, hive tools and smokers) and educational materials only.
- Chapters will not be reimbursed for the purchase of honeybees, box ware, instructor fees, travel expenses or any other items.
- The NCSBA chapter will be expected to provide honeybees or box ware for the 4-H chapter as necessary. Honeybees and hives may remain the property of an individual, the NCSBA chapter or may be donated to the 4-H chapter.
- Should the 4-H club discontinue for a period of two years the use of items supplied by the grant program, the NCSBA may request the return all items in used or unused condition to the local chapter or the President of the NCSBA. At the discretion of the co-coordinators, a student who wishes to keep and continue to use his or her protective gear may do so.
Previous Projects
- Franklin County Beekeepers Association is working jointly with their local 4-H program. They will offer a two day bee school which involves one day of classroom education and activities and one day in an actual apiary. 2019
- Union County Beekeepers and the NCSBA donated money for beekeeping equipment and foundation colonies to the Hidden Meadows 4H. Hidden Meadows 4H now maintains a teaching apiary and donates colonies to members of the 4H. 2018