Nearly everyone born between 1996 and 2010, or those consider the Gen Z, as they're known, owns a smartphone, Mediakix research shows. What many people don't know, however, is that these young people are often as much into nature as they are into technology.
Fourteen-year-old Jake Reisdorf of California is a shining example. The subject for a school project was the impetus that turned an initial interest in bees into a full-fledged hobby and business, and the young entrepreneur now serves as founder and CEO of Carmel Honey Company.
He had taken a beekeeping course and used that information to create a website for a class project. His fellow students, however, seemed more interested in learning about honey bees than about website design. So Reisdorf procured a hive and began rescuing wild swarms. He now manages nearly 100 hives.
While Reisdorf enjoys selling honey and honeycomb to specialty food stores and restaurant chefs, he also uses his company to raise awareness about how important honey bees are to the food system, speaking at schools, giving out seed packets, and even educating adults at Kiwanis and garden club meetings.
He also places hives on properties for those looking to support honey bees without becoming beekeepers themselves.
"We place hives on both residential and commercial properties," said Reisdorf. "That way, people are able to let the honey bees pollinate their garden beds or flowers, but they don't have to be involved in hive management. It's a great way to raise awareness about pollinators and get the local community involved."
Reisdorf's support of pollinators recently caught the attention of the Bayer Bee Care Program as the company searched for its next recipient of the Community Leadership Award, which recognizes outstanding beekeepers and partner organizations making a difference in their communities. Reisdorf was awarded the first-ever Young Beekeeper Community Leadership Award for his work as a future key player in an otherwise aging beekeeping industry.
Fortunately, he isn't the only Gen Z member who cares about pollinator health. This year's award garnered applications from nearly two dozen teens from across the country who are making pollinator health a priority.
Though these young naturalists certainly participate in the digital landscape, many of today's Gen Z kids are using social media and other forms of technology to spread the word: Bees are cool, and each individual can play a vital role in determining their fate.
Learn More About The Carmel Honey CompanyVisit the Carmel Honey Company website and learn more about Jake's story via their website.
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