Summerlike weather brings bee fans to Kline Creek Farm

Deirdre Campbell of Wheaton said she’d long thought about bringing her boys to Kline Creek Farm to look at its beekeeping operation, but for some reason never made the trip.

“Today was different,” she said. “The weather is so gorgeous, I knew I wanted to be outside. So we all came out here. It’s a fun way to spend an afternoon.”

Campbell was one of dozens of people who visited the living-history farm in West Chicago Sunday. The farm’s beekeeping demonstration was one of the day’s main attractions.

Longtime Kline Creek Farm volunteer Lawrence DuBose explained to groups of children how bees produce honey. He also stressed how vital bees are to the lives of animals and human beings, as they pollinate the plants that provide food to both.

DuBose and his late wife, Wanda, were instrumental in establishing a beekeeping operation at Kline Creek Farm nearly 30 years ago. The farm, which makes and sells honey and beeswax products on site, named its honey processing center after Wanda.

“My son is just getting interested in bees and other insects,” said West Chicago resident Cathryn Bozenda of her 5-year-old son, Christopher, immediately following DuBose’s demonstration. “I think he enjoyed this, especially seeing the candles and things made out of the beeswax.”

Kline Creek Farm, a facility run by the DuPage County Forest Preserve District, re-creates the farm life of DuPage County in the late 19th century. In addition to the beekeeping demonstrations, the farm hosted events related to maple-syrup production Sunday for local Cub Scouts.

Additional beekeeping events — formally titled Meet the Beekeepers — will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. each Sunday through June 24. For information, go to dupageforest.com.