Honeybee Discovery Center unveils 'Bee-Mobile' education bus

The mobile classroom will bring hands-on honeybee education to 25,000 more students in the region.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The Honeybee Discovery Center in Orland, California has unveiled a new 'Bee-Mobile' education bus that is outfitted with 3D-printed model bees, honeycombs, and hundreds of live honeybees. The mobile classroom is expected to bring the center's hands-on honeybee education programs to 25,000 more students across Glenn, Tehama, and Butte counties.

Why it matters

The Bee-Mobile allows the Honeybee Discovery Center to expand its educational reach and teach more students about the important role honeybees play in food systems and ecosystems. With the bus, the center can bring its interactive, hands-on lessons directly to classrooms that may not have been able to visit the center in person.

The details

The Bee-Mobile was formerly owned by Explore Butte County and was purchased with the help of a $25,000 grant from the 4-H Foundation. The bus is outfitted with 3D-printed model bees and honeycombs, as well as hundreds of live honeybees. During visits, educators will set up stations with hands-on activities for students to learn about pollination, bee biology, and the role of pollinators. They will also bring out a live observation hive so students can see the bees interacting.

  • This week, the Bee-Mobile made its inaugural visit to Jackson Elementary School in Red Bluff, where more than 150 students learned about honeybees.
  • The Honeybee Discovery Center is currently planning trips to schools across the region.

The players

Carolina Burrelson

The CEO of the Honeybee Discovery Center.

Explore Butte County

The former owner of the bus that was converted into the Bee-Mobile.

4-H Foundation

Provided a $25,000 grant to help the Honeybee Discovery Center purchase the bus.

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What they’re saying

“It was magic, because they would not have been able to come out.”

— Carolina Burrelson, CEO, Honeybee Discovery Center (orovillemr.com)

“When we go into the classrooms, we are able to bring in models and demonstrations, and so what we're teaching is very hands-on. There's always a game or a demonstration, or some sort of activity that allows them to learn, which really reaches differentiated learners.”

— Carolina Burrelson, CEO, Honeybee Discovery Center (orovillemr.com)

“This is the best educational tool to provide the schools, and it's for everybody. I could sit here and watch for a couple of hours. Kids have a great time trying to locate the queen, too, because then … if they actually find the queen, then we can talk about the difference in anatomy between a worker bee and a queen.”

— Carolina Burrelson, CEO, Honeybee Discovery Center (orovillemr.com)

What’s next

The Honeybee Discovery Center is currently planning trips to schools across Glenn, Tehama, and Butte counties to bring the Bee-Mobile and its hands-on honeybee education programs to more students in the region.

The takeaway

The Bee-Mobile is an innovative way for the Honeybee Discovery Center to expand its educational reach and teach more students about the importance of honeybees and pollinators in our food systems and ecosystems. By bringing the interactive lessons directly to classrooms, the center can engage a wider audience and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.