When replacing this cache, please follow the directions on the inside of the lid
Located on the grounds of the Steppingstone Museum, along the back field behind the studio, are the museum’s Honeybee Hives. The hives are cared for by the Susquehanna Beekeepers Association who offer periodic demonstrations and programs to the public.
Honeybees are considered critical pollinators of many fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Worldwide, there are over 90 food plants that rely almost exclusively on the honeybee for pollination.
Did you know...?
Honeybees are not native to North or South America. The first bees were brought to North America by Virginia settlers in the 1620’s.
Honeybees are gentle and nonaggressive by nature, unlike wasps, hornets and yellow jackets.
A worker bee’s adult life in the summer is about six weeks and during that time she collects only 1/12 of a teaspoon of nectar. A hive of bees flies over 55,000 air miles to produce one pound of honey.
During the summer, the typical honeybee colony contains between 30,000 to 60,000 bees.
Without the pollination services of honeybees, many of our typical foods such as apples, cucumbers, almonds and watermelons would not be available.
Honey was man’s first sweetener and it was so valued that it could be used to pay taxes in some cultures.
The hive can be easily avoided while walking to the cache. The cache is NOT in close proximity to the hive and can be accessed without being near the hive.
During the operating season - April - October, Sundays 1p - 5p, you may find volunteer artisans in the blacksmith shop, woodworking shop, or the cannery. The site director has been very open to geocaching on the property, please park at the parking waypoint and observe the operating hours of the grounds.
Steppingstone Museum
Grounds
Grounds are open daily roughly 9:00am to sunset. Steppingstone is a tenant of Susquehanna State Park and as such, the gates are unlocked/locked by Park Rangers who handle all the gates within the park.
Bathrooms are listed as seasonal access (April - October)
Steppingstone's grounds are pet friendly!
All animals must be leashed and cleaned up after at all times.
Only trained service animals are permitted inside museum buildings.
Museum
Museum hours are Sundays, 1-5, April through October. Hours are subject to change. Admission for the museum is through donations at the mercantile gift shop, except for special events.
This geocache was placed with permission by the Steppingstone Museum site coordinator.