In this three-week course and following field day, you will learn how to start your first year in beekeeping.
This beginner’s course will be led by EAS Master Beekeeper Nathan Reid with a mix of other local experts. In addition to the classroom sessions, there will be a bonus Field Day in our teaching apiary (weather permitting), with some hands-on inspections. The Field day will be a Sat/Sun in late March or early April .
Beekeeping 101 is just the beginning of learning about bees and beekeeping. Fortunately, our meetings and other club resources are here to supplement your journey beyond the classroom instruction.
A note from Nate: It’s my goal for this course that you leave with a firm grasp on how to begin your beekeeping journey. However, the fundamentals you learn here will be relevant to any hive inspection regardless of the season. We will focus on building a foundation for beekeeping that includes:
- Practical solutions you can do at the hive
- Stress the timing of certain management practices
- How to read the frames
- Understanding risk in hive management
What’s important to me isn’t that you know all the bee facts, but that you know when and where to look for information when needed.
2025 Dates and Times to be Announced Soon!
Topics Covered in our Beekeeping 101 Course Include:
Day 1
- 9am – 10:30am: Overview of a full season and introduction to fundamental concepts.
- 11am – 12:30pm: Necessary honey bee biology and guidelines for handling bees.
- Guest Speaker: TBD
Day 2
- 9am – 10:30am: How to read the hive, Inspecting a colony
- 11am – 12:30pm: Dealing with pests and disease.
- Guest Speaker: TBD
Day 3
- 9am – 10:30am: Recap, and highlights
- 11am – 12:30pm: Mock inspection, Q&A
- Guest Speaker: TBD
Optional: Suggested reading, take home work, zoom sessions in between classes.
Registration includes an individual one-year membership to CMBA (regularly $20/year). Members are invited to attend our monthly meetings and board meetings. You will also receive full members-only access to our website, lending library, and teaching apiary. Everyone is welcome!