Wild Bee Education at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
The Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science is known for its immersive butterfly habitat and insect zoo, where visitors can experience the beauty and complexity of pollinators and other invertebrates up close. Outside, the Community Science Garden demonstrates how pollinator-friendly, pesticide-free spaces support native bees, beetles, birds, and other wildlife that help sustain healthy ecosystems.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science welcomes all to explore the natural world through science, discovery, and hands-on learning. Its world-class exhibits and garden spaces connect visitors to the living systems that surround us every day.
Discover Wild Bees Here
The bees in this house do not make honey or live in large hives. They don't have a queen to defend and rarely sting. Instead, they nest alone in hollow stems, reeds, and openable bee houses—making them safe to observe and perfect for hands-on learning environments.
There are more than 4,000 bee species in the United States. Many are solitary bees that pollinate native plants, gardens, farms, and natural landscapes—helping to keep ecosystems healthy.
Raising Wild Bees Is Easier Than You Think
Most wild bees don't make honey or live in hives—and they don't require gear or special equipment. All they need are safe nesting materials, flowers to forage, and pesticide-free spaces.
Families, schools, parks, and nature programs can all help support pollinator conservation—right where they live, learn, and explore.
Fun fact: One Mason bee can pollinate as many flowers as 100 honey bees!
Why Wild Bees Matter
They pollinate more efficiently. Wild bees carry pollen loosely on their bellies and brush against every part of the flower. Nearly every flower visit results in pollination of both crops and native plants.
They support healthy ecosystems. Wild bees help pollinate native flowers, gardens, forests, meadows, and restored habitats, supporting food crops and wildlife.
They fill pollination gaps. Wild bees are not affected by many of the pests and diseases that challenge honeybees, making them valuable partners in nature and agriculture.
Wild bees are active for only part of the year. The rest of the time, they grow as larvae, form cocoons, and hibernate until spring or summer.
Here's a look at the Mason bee lifecycle:
You Can Help!
You don't need a large space to make an impact. Even a small garden, nature trail, or community education project can support pollinators.
- Plant native flowers that bloom across seasons.
- Leave natural stems and leaf litter for nesting.
- Avoid pesticides and herbicides that harm bees.
- Use openable nesting materials for safe annual cocoon care.
- Learn which bees live near you: Where the Wild Bees Are
Bring Mason Bees to Your Classroom!
The Crown Bees' Bee Buddies Pollinator Program is a K–12, hands-on, student-led learning experience that turns pollination into something students can see, touch, and care for. Using gentle, region-specific Mason bees, students observe the full pollination cycle right on their own campus while building a deeper connection to their local ecosystem.
Each accepted classroom receives a FREE Bee Buddies starter kit, with Mason bee cocoons, reusable wood nesting trays, and an easy-to-use mud mix. Everything is designed to be easy to manage, classroom friendly, and flexible enough to fit school schedules with no beekeeping experience required.
Through the seasons, students connect to growing food, sharing harvests, and caring for the living world just outside the classroom door. The result? Curiosity takes off, stewardship grows, and science becomes something students learn hands on!
Support Wild Bees with Purpose-Built BeeSafe™ Habitats
Bee houses installed in public gardens should do more than add visual interest. Crown Bees habitats are built to the BeeSafe™ Standard, a research-informed approach to design and materials that supports healthier solitary cavity-nesting bees while reducing pest and disease pressure. Our nesting materials and houses are made in the USA and designed for long-term stewardship, giving public gardens a reliable way to demonstrate pollinator conservation, support local bee populations, and create meaningful educational moments for visitors.
Rewild Refuge Bee House
Perfect for parks, education centers, and conservation spaces that support observation, stewardship, and habitat learning. Shop Rewild Refuge here.
DIY Build a Bee House
Great for classrooms, camps, workshops, and family learning events. Build, place, observe, and support wild bees. Shop DIY Bee House here.
About the Houston Museum of Natural Science: The Houston Museum of Natural Science is one of the most visited natural history museums in the United States. Located in Houston, Texas, its exhibits, gardens, and education programs inspire curiosity and a deeper connection to the natural world for visitors of all ages.
About Crown Bees: Based in Washington state, Crown Bees partners with gardens, parks, schools, and conservation groups to raise awareness and provide science-based tools for supporting wild, cavity-nesting bees. The bee house in this space meets the BeeSafe™ Standard, our framework for nesting and seasonal care that ensures the habitat wild bees find here actually supports healthy populations. We're buzzing to be collaborating on this pollinator project.
We're Here to Help You BEE Successful
- Getting Started Guide
- BeeMail Newsletter
- If you have direct questions, email info@crownbees.com