RVC Outdoor Destinations, a provider outdoor resort properties in the U.S., has made a foray into the care, cultivation, and colony protection of one of America’s most important natural resources: honey bees.
According to some estimates, approximately 50% of all honey bees in North America are dying every year -- a troubling statistic that RVC and others believe is evidence of a deeper ecological disturbance.
Beginning this month, RVC, best known for its nationwide network of "comfortable, well-appointed outdoor oriented resorts," has established new, state-of-the-art hives at ten of its resort properties, soon to include the Raccoon Mountain Campground.
“We are looking to educate ourselves and the wider community” said RVC Chief Operating Officer Yale Spina. “Something’s wrong, and humans need to pay attention.”
“The planet has been witnessing a serious increase in Colony Collapse Disorder over the last few years, which is why we’re acting with some urgency,” said Mr. Spina, who proposed the project at a meeting of RVC staff in February. “This has really devastating effects on our ecosystem and ultimately affects human life as well as 33% of our diet”.
“Because we care about the bees, we are going to provide great homes for bees at our properties and educate our staff and guests about the plight of the bees. Since RVC Outdoor Destinations are located in diverse ecosystems, our hope is that the honeybees will thrive here and help us be good stewards of our land and the overall environment.”
RVC is using hives which allow for easy viewing of the bees at work, as well as simple extraction of honey. The company is partnering with local beekeeping associations to manage the hives and provide the bees with proper care.
RVC’s investment in bees will be accompanied by educational resources intended to illuminate some of the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder -- and some possible remedies. The initiative, dubbed “The RVC BEECause,” invites RVC guests to plant bee friendly gardens and use organic growing methods, bring awareness to products that are bee friendly, and be mindful of the pesticides used in homes – as well as eat more honey.
“We’re asking our guests and patrons to join us in becoming ‘RVC Beelievers’ -- we all need to beelieve in bees and what they mean to our lives,” said Mr. Spina. RVC will donate proceeds from honey sourced from the Flow-Hives to support local beekeepers and bee-friendly causes.
RVC Outdoor Destinations BEECause hives are currently placed at the following resort locations:
? Garden of the Gods
Colorado Springs, Co.
? Catherine’s Landing
Hot Springs, Ar.
? Medina High Point Resort
Medina, Tx.
? Live Oak Landing
Freeport, Fl.
? Pine Mountain
Pine Mountain, Ga.
? Mountain Springs
Asheville, NC
? Lake Raystown Resort
Entriken, P
? Yosemite South (coming soon)
Yosemite, Ca.
? Raccoon Mountain Campground (coming soon)
Chattanooga
? Carrabelle Beach RV Resort (Crooked Creek Lighthouse)
Carrabelle, Fl.
The BEECause project will expand to other RVC locations throughout the remainder of 2016.