Beekeeping Club relocates swarm of thousands of bees

In August, Sam Ream ‘21 was walking home from class when his phone rang. His roommate was on the phone, and told Ream there was a swarm of bees near the Afton Apartment Complex, behind Chesapeake Hall on the Roanoke College campus.

Ream, then in his first semester as the president of the College’s Beekeeping Club, sprang into action. He contacted Instruction and Research Services Librarian Piper Cumbo, the club’s advisor, and the two of them went out to the swarm.

When they arrived, they found an estimated 8,000-10,000 bees. It was Ream’s second time relocating a swarm, so he wasn’t too nervous.

“If you’ve ever been around a bee, like everyone has, it’s the buzzing that gets annoying,” Ream said. “But it’s all good. It’s quite fun, actually.”

Ream and Cumbo simply slid the nest off the tree branch it was on and into an empty printer paper box. They then drove the nest to the apiary, where the swarm now resides.

Beekeeping Club members have to do something similar almost every year, Ream said. Students maintain the apiary during the school year, but when they’re away in the summer, beetles and moths invade the area and drive the bees away. Ream said the bees usually migrate elsewhere on campus, and the Beekeeping Club has to relocate them.

The Beekeeping Club has proven to be a popular one on campus; Ream said 18 people alone signed up during this fall’s Activity Fair. In terms of taking care of the bees, there isn’t a need for everyone in the club to go at once, but with everyone’s busy academic schedules, having more people in the club helps ensure someone is free most of the time to tend to the bees.

The club attracts people from all majors, and students find the experience valuable even if it won’t directly pertain to their future careers. For example, Ream is a sociology major interested in criminal justice.

Ream said one of the great aspects of the club — and of all clubs on campus — is the way knowledge and experience are passed down from one group of students to another.

“Being at Roanoke College, something we pride ourselves on is this is something we can pass down,” Ream said. “Hopefully these bees stay — and stay healthy — and can provide us some honey. Then we can work with Commons and the dining staff. President Maxey’s always a huge fan. We always give out honey to him.”

The club takes field trips to visit beekeepers in the Salem area, and Ream said those are always interesting and enlightening experiences. 

Cumbo said it’s always exciting to watch students learn and grow in the club. Not only do students get to learn about the science behind bees, they also get to see the benefits the bees have on the world around them.

“While working with local beekeepers, members get to participate in a process that’s been cultivated by generations of beekeepers,” Cumbo said. “Beekeeping students have gone on to become beekeeping alumni and continue to put into practice the skills they were taught at Dear Old Roanoke, while reaping the sweet rewards of our pollen gathering friends.”