Beecuz strives to create a future where youth embrace authenticity, recognize their potential to thrive, and choose courage over comfort; a future where children feel safe and supported, where they believe that they are worthy, and where they dare to chase their dreams.
We believe in a future where children are not afraid to fall, because they are confident in their ability to get back up; a future where it’s okay to ask for help, and where we don’t have to talk separately about mental health and physical health, but just health.
Beecuz believes that this future is possible, and we have chosen to lead the change.
Our program is backed by extensive scientific evidence demonstrating the social, emotional, and physical benefits of Positive Education. Positive education “brings together the science of Positive Psychology with best practice teaching to encourage and support individuals, schools and communities to flourish – to feel good and do good. Positive Education focuses on specific skills that assist students to strengthen their relationships, build positive emotions, enhance personal resilience, promote mindfulness and encourage a healthy lifestyle”.
Through innovative activities, engaging instruction, and interdisciplinary teaching, Beecuz helps students build a toolbox of skills and resources that promote flourishing.
Beecuz is continually evaluating our program’s impact on the health and wellbeing of students, teachers, families and communities. By asking program participants to complete surveys at the beginning and end of the school year, we are able to quantify our impact and assess the benefits of positive education beyond the four walls of the classroom.
This evaluation also helps us continually modify and improve our resources so that we can provide the highest quality, most relevant level of instruction.
Aerodynamically, the bumblebee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumblebee flies anyways because it knows its strength. Beecuz believes that everyone has great strength within. Sometimes, we just need a little help recognizing it.
What's the connection between how your brain and a swarm of bees make a decision? Like bees, our brains transmit information by sending and receiving signals that lay a foundation for collective intelligence. That's why Dr. Thomas Seeley, professor of neurobiology at Cornell University, describes humans as having a hive mind.
Humans have, what is known as a hive switch, that allows us to “turn off individual competition in favour of group cooperation”. Like bees, humans are wired for connection, with a fundamental need to belong. We want to build a hive.
Lena Schreyer, formally trained in Neuroscience at Western University, is a passionate mental health advocate. Her energy, expertise and dedication to positive education reflects her extensive training, continued education, and personal experiences with overcoming mental illness.
Lena has also earned a Certificate of Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) from the world-renowned Flourishing Center, as well as completed the Positive Education Certification (PEC) and Level 2 Trainer Training (PECT) from the Center for Positive Education.
Since 2018, Lena has been developing educational mental health curricula for elementary school students, leading workshops, training teachers and speaking publicly, in an effort to proactively address mental health and reduce mental health stigma.
In recognition of her ongoing community engagement, academic achievement, and character, Lena has been awarded the 3M National Student Fellowship, President’s National Scholarship, Canadian Youth Leadership Award, and an Honours Citation from the Loran Foundation.
Lena often returns to a familiar childhood friend for guidance and words of encouragement: Christopher Robin from Winnie the Pooh once said,
