Beekeeping Courses
Beekeeping Courses
Beekeeping Courses
Beekeeping Courses
Beekeeping Courses
Beekeeping Courses
Beginner/ Refresher Beekeeping Course
Looking to get started with beekeeping? Our Beginner/ Refresher Beekeeping Course has got you covered! This course is designed to provide you with the basic to intermediate theory and practical experience needed to successfully manage your first and second seasons of beekeeping. The theory component of the course will be delivered over two engaging and interactive evening sessions that you can attend from the comfort of your own home. The practical component will take place in person at our educational bee yard in Revelstoke, BC.
During the course, you'll learn about beekeeping equipment and tools, beekeeping season, integrated pest management, how a colony operates, honey harvest, winter preparations, responsible beekeeping practices, bee regulation, and the beekeeping community and resources available to you.
The practical component of the course is an interactive hands-on learning experience where you'll work with and in the beehive, learning about electric fencing and bear awareness, hive set up and timing, managing frames and hive equipment, identifying different types of bees, integrated pest management best practices, record-keeping, pulling honey for harvest, and winterizing. You'll also have the opportunity to work through the season from transferring a nuc into a hive, swarm control, splitting hives, and adding/pulling honey supers to feeding, winter preparation, and winterizing.
Upon completing the course, you'll have developed a theoretical and practical knowledge of beekeeping that will enable you to confidently and responsibly manage your own hives. You'll also receive one-on-one instruction to improve your beginner-level beekeeping practices. Basic protection is required for the practical component (gloves, veil or bee jacket/bee suit), and a hive tool and smoker are preferred.
The Beginner/ Refresher Beekeeping Course is a two-part course that can be taken separately, but is most effective when taken together as a full course. The theory component takes place on May 4th and 5th, 2023 (Thursday/Friday) from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm, while the practical component takes place on May 6th, 2023 (Sunday) from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Beekeeping Course Questions
We prefer that you provide your own beekeeping protective clothing (suit/ jacket and vail, gloves). However if needed we can help out with spare protective clothing.
We offer our beginner course from the last weekend in April until Mid May each year, and our beginner/ refresher couse in July.
This allows for a good range of weather, early development of the hives, and enough time for you to still get organized before first season activities begin (receiving your bees) at the end of May.
It also allows for you to be active in your beekeeping season and/ or plan in advance for the next season.
YES!!
We appreciate hearing from you after you complete your beginner course. We want to continue supporting your development by answering questions, providing ongoing resources, and connecting you with the beekeeping community. It can be a complex skill to develop over time. We remember well what the beginning years and experience is like and want to make sure you and your bees are successful.
