Apparently, I know nothing about bees.
Well, far less than I thought in any case!
Maybe, like most parents, you have read a handful of childhood stories about bees. You know they make honey, they buzz around, and you likely remind your children to leave them bee (pun fully intended) when they spot them in the backyard.
So if your interaction with bees is also largely limited to reading about them in Winnie the Pooh (we had a whole themed birthday party to that effect once), you’ll likely enjoy BEES! at the PumpHouse Museum in Kingston just as much as we did, and learn more than you would even bee-lieve. (We’ll settle down with the puns from here on out.)
The PumpHouse Museum, located along the waterfront in Kingston, Ontario, is home to BEES! until October 31, 2026. This travelling exhibition, developed by the Museum of Surrey in collaboration with Honeybee Centre, is a perfect fit here at the PumpHouse since it’s hands-on, family-friendly, and a great indoor activity when the weather starts to turn. You’ll learn about bee health and diversity, various kinds of pollinators, and become fascinated by the inner workings of a hive.
I never hesitate to bring my kids, who are 5 and 7, to the PumpHouse Museum a few times a year, because I know they’ll find plenty to do without me having to plan every minute.
Upon entering, the staff welcomed us by offering the boys a museum-wide scavenger hunt activity sheet. Before I knew it, they were searching for flowers like little honey bees throughout the museum. There is no need to whisper your way through or worry about the kids being a little more active as they explore. There are plenty of opportunities to touch, move and interact with the exhibits that are designed for hands-on play.
With their laminated scavenger hunts in hand, my two children suddenly became very serious researchers, asking about the oversized displays, huge photographs, and pointing at everything. As a parent, I can simply follow their lead, answer questions, and watch them learn along the way.
Want to visit BEES!? Enter to Win a Family Pass
We’re giving away a Family Pass to the PumpHouse Museum, so if you want to go check out BEES! for yourself, here’s your chance! Head over to Instagram via my post below for your chance to win.
[EMBED REEL HERE]
Contest closes [DATE].
Full contest details and entry instructions are included on the Instagram post.
What Can Kids See and Do at BEES! at the PumpHouse Museum?
There’s a lot packed into this exhibition, and my kids were constantly finding something new to investigate.
- Try the Waggle Dance – like a kitchen dance party, but cuter and at the museum.
- Climb through a giant honeycomb – and spy the bee life cycle while you’re at it!
- Play with interactive exhibits – my boys loved the Bee I.D. Spinner, and we learned about so many varieties.
- Dress up like a beekeeper – complete with coat, hat and netting, in kid-sized.
- Discover colourful honey – we had no idea it could come in so many different colours, and why.
- Explore the life of a bee – from eggs to larvae to the different jobs bees have.
- Watch and listen to the bees – including the live hive camera.
- Colour your own magic marker flower – and add it to the pollination display.
- Take the bee quiz – staff can also provide questions for kids to answer after they’ve explored the exhibit, which makes for a fun little “did you actually listen?” test for the whole family.
The exhibition also looks at Indigenous bees, beekeeping equipment, bee products and the ways bees are represented in popular culture.
Questions to Ask Your Kids Before You Visit
This is one of those exhibits where I think it would be fun to turn the visit into a little game.
Ask your kids:
- How many different kinds of bees do you think there are?
- Why do bees dance?
- Why isn’t all honey the same colour?
- What jobs do bees have inside a hive?
- Why are bees important?
- Can you spot a bee that isn’t a honeybee?
Save these questions and ask your kids again after your visit to see what they remember!
Is BEES! at the PumpHouse Museum Good for Younger Kids?
I’d say the overall PumpHouse experience works really well for kids who are 2+, although BEES! itself is officially geared toward ages 4–14. Older kids will get more out of the reading, questions and science behind the exhibits, while younger kids can focus on the giant visuals, climbing, movement and hands-on elements.
For my 5- and 7-year-olds, it was pretty much the sweet spot: they were old enough to understand the information and answer questions, but still young enough to be completely delighted by performing a waggle dance with their parents.
How Much Time Should You Plan to Spend at the PumpHouse Museum?
I’d probably say you should reserve at least an hour for BEES! itself, but if your kids are anything like mine, you’ll spend some time in the Swyrich Train Room, Discovery Centre, and Pump Room too, so I’d give yourself a couple of hours to explore the whole museum without feeling rushed.
Checklist for Exploring BEES! and the PumpHouse Museum with Kids
If it’s your first visit, here’s how I’d make my way through the museum:
- Start at the front desk and grab a scavenger hunt for the kids from the friendly staff. You can return it at the end.
- Head into BEES! and start investigating. Don’t miss the Live Hive Cam, the Bee I.D. Spinner, and the other interactive stations.
- Take advantage of the little bathroom inside the exhibit area; it’s the perfect pit-stop if you’re a parent, IYKYK.
- Head to the Swyrich Train Room and start looking for the hidden bumblebee! Spend some time pressing train buttons, let the kids lose themselves at the train table, and decorate the giant light-up pegboard.
- Make your way to the Education Hive/Discovery Centre for more hands-on learning and STEM play. There are always building activities, crafts, and open-ended toys that let kids endlessly build and play here. The space is now being referred to as the PumpHouse Education Hive supported by TD and extends the BEES! experience through hands-on learning around pollinators, biodiversity and environmental stewardship. Let them climb into the honeycomb and try on the beekeeper gear before you leave.
- Finish in the Pump Room and check out bees in popular culture on your way out. You’ll eventually come back out near the front desk, where the kids can hand in their scavenger hunts and get their sticker.
- And before you leave, check out the souvenirs. The PumpHouse has a selection of items, including some beautiful handmade creations crafted by museum employees right behind the front desk.
What’s Happening at the PumpHouse Museum
Check out the Events & Programs page here for upcoming events and updates.
- PumpHouse Play Days: Tuesdays, 10 am – 12 pm in the Discovery Centre. Drop-in, open-ended play with hands-on activities, building, crafts and more.
- Holiday programming: The PumpHouse continues programming after BEES! leaves, including its All Aboard holiday programming.
- Coming in March 2027: a family-friendly archaeology exhibition!
Don’t forget to explore and play in the Pump Room, where the kids can get up close with the museum’s historic machinery.
Why We Keep Coming Back to the PumpHouse Museum
After years of visiting the PumpHouse Museum, I think what keeps us coming back is how well it manages to educate kids and parents alike without ever feeling like a lesson. So much of it is hands-on and interactive, and I love having somewhere I can take the boys where I know they’ll be encouraged to move, touch and investigate without me having to orchestrate every second of the visit.
And while BEES! was the reason for this particular visit, the rotating exhibits aren’t the only reason we keep coming back. Between the Discovery Centre, Swyrich Train Room and the historic Pump Room, there’s always something else for the kids to discover. There are plenty of opportunities for the kids to move, touch, investigate and play, and somewhere along the way, they’re learning a whole lot too. I’d call that a pretty sweet family outing.
And yes, I realize I said we’d stop with the puns. I lied.
– Anna
Disclosure: This content was sponsored in collaboration with The PumpHouse Museum/The City of Kingston.
All opinions and comments are my own.
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