About Us

Mission and History

Founded in 2016 by Karine Pouliquen, the OC Bee Team began with a simple but powerful vision: to create a teaching apiary rooted in science, hands-on learning, and community service.

Karine developed her foundation in honey bee biology and beekeeping while studying under the renowned “Bee” Professor Dr. Marla Spivak at the University of Minnesota, where she completed her master’s degree in horticultural agriculture. She later worked for several years as a Senior Lab Manager in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Entomology before retiring and relocating to Southern California in 2015.

The program was established at the South Coast Research and Extension Center (SCREC) in Irvine, California, in collaboration with the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR). What started as three hives along a field, four eager participants, and one instructor, quickly grew into a thriving beekeeping and outreach education program serving beekeepers, gardeners, nature enthusiasts, and the broader community.

From the beginning, education has been at the heart of the OC Bee Team. Karine recognized that misinformation surrounding beekeeping was widespread and believed that a strong understanding of honey bee biology and colony management was essential for success. While developing a science-based beekeeping curriculum for Southern California, she taught classes to the public and trained volunteers responsible for caring for the apiary’s growing number of colonies.

Within three years, the program expanded to 12 teaching hives and 15 trained volunteers. As participation increased, a formal apiary safety curriculum was developed to ensure a safe, educational environment for all.

In 2019, a pivotal opportunity emerged when Dr. Elina Niño, Professor of Cooperative Extension in Apiculture at UC Davis, launched the California Master Beekeeper Program (CAMBP). That year, twelve OC Bee Team volunteers, including Karine, participated in the inaugural pilot program held in San Diego, earning their Apprentice Level certification. Notably, OC Bee Team members made up half of the pilot cohort.

These shared goals led to a formal partnership between the OC Bee Team and CAMBP. In July 2020, the SCREC apiary became a CAMBP satellite hub, and Karine was appointed CAMBP OC Bee Team Lead under Dr. Niño’s direction. Since then, many volunteers have gone on to earn their Apprentice, Journey and Master Beekeeper certifications.

Today, the CAMBP OC Bee Team is an active, service-oriented group of approximately 30 trained volunteers who meet weekly to care for the teaching apiary and provide science-based education and outreach on honey bee health. Volunteers commit to ongoing training, safety education, continuing education, and community engagement to remain current in an evolving field.

An integral part of the program is its pollinator garden, designed to support honey bees and native pollinators alike. Thoughtfully planted with nectar and pollen-rich species suited to Southern California, the garden is now a lush habitat that also includes a native bee hotel and a vegetable garden, all built and maintained by volunteers.

After a decade, the OC Bee Team stands as a testament to Karine’s original vision: a teaching apiary made possible through education, collaboration, and the dedication of volunteers who care deeply for the bees, one another, and the community they serve, especially the youth who represent its future.