Annual Bee Schools are sponsored by Local Chapters, Adult Education Programs, and sometimes in cooperation with the County Extension Service.
These practical courses are a must for beginners and a great chance for intermediate-level beekeepers to update and refresh their skills.
It is important to be sure to sign up with the instructor who is right for you (find out by asking at local bee clubs).
2013 Maine Beekeeping Schools, Classes, Workshops and Seminars
Instructor: Erin MacGregor-Forbes, EAS Master Beekeeper, past President, Maine State Beekeepers Association.
Cumberland County Beginner Schools
5 weeks + 1 field day (to be scheduled in spring) $95/per person 35 ppl MAX
January 10 – February 7 Thursday @ Cooperative Extension – Master Beekeepers Cindy Bee and Peter Richardson
February 14 – March 14 Thursday @ Cooperative Extension- Cumberland County Beekeepers Vice President Geoff MacLean and Master Beekeeper Peter Richardson
Cumberland County Intermediate Schools
5 weeks + 1 field day (to be scheduled in winter/spring)
Intermediate (the same class we have been teaching: $140/per person 35 ppl MAX
January 9 – February 20 – Wednesday (@ USM) Master Beekeepers Erin MacGregor-Forbes and Jack Hildreth
Cumberland County Advanced Intermediate
(prerequisite of prior Intermediate class, or at least 5 years of beekeeping) $120/per person 35 MAX
February 26 – March 26. Tuesday @ USM – Master Beekeepers Erin MacGregor-Forbes and Cindy Bee
For additional information and registration call: Colleen Hoyt, Cumberland County Cooperative Extension.
781-6099 or colleen.hoyt@maine.edu
Beekeeping Workshop: Healthy Hives Through Natural Management
Where: Mather Auditorium at Laudholm Farm, 342 Laudholm Farm Road, Wells, ME 04090
When: Thursday, March 28, 2013; 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Course Fee: $55 or $80, your choice of one pre-assembled nuc box set included with course fee. $55 course fee includes 5-frame deep nuc box; $80 fee includes 10-frame medium nuc box.
Pre-Registration: is required by February 12 – to allow time to order your nuc box.
You may register by phone (324-2814), or online;
Master Beekeeper Erin MacGregor-Forbes will lead this two-hour workshop on improving colony health. “Breaking the Brood Cycle” is a technique which replicates the bee colony’s most valuable natural defenses against disease. Forbes will explain how this process works in the natural cycle of the bees and how it benefits the colony for strength and disease resistance. Then she will discuss in detail how and when the beekeeper can simulate this process in their own colonies, utilizing the bees’ natural cycles as a guide to improve colony health.
Beekeepers will learn what breaking the brood cycle can do for their colonies, and how to im- prove their own IPM program with this technique. Class fee includes one nuc set-up (5-frame deep or 10-frame medium) for each participant. The workshop is sponsored by the York County Beekeepers Association and University of Maine Cooperative Extension in York County.
For more information contact UMaine Cooperative Extension in York County at 1-800-287-1535 (in state) or 207-324-2814 or (TDD) 1-800-287-8957 or email: rebecca.gowdy@maine.edu.
York County Beginner Bee School Spring 2013
Where: Downstairs Classroom in the Anderson Learning Center, 21 Bradeen Street, Springvale, ME
When: Thursdays, 6:00 to 8:30 PM, February 28 – March 28
Course Fee: $90 – includes beginning beekeeping textbooks, other materials, and a 1-year membership in the York County Beekeepers Association. A reduced fee of $50 applies to one of a pair of students who choose to share the text and materials ($140/pair).
Pre-Registration: is required by February 22. Please use registration form on page 2, or if you are charging your fee, you may register by phone at 207-324-2814, or online at this link: http://umaine.edu/york/programs/beginner-bee-school/.
Space is limited, sign up soon!
York Beekeepers Spring 2013 Course Registration Document (PDF)
Courses at The Honey Exchange in Portland
For more information:
http://thehoneyexchange.com/pages/classes-and-events
Beginning Beekeeping
Presented by Oxford Hills Adult Education, Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, South Paris. 5 week course starting March 5, 2013 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Taught by Master Beekeeper Carol Cottrill. Tuition $33, text $10. Registration information www.sac17.maineadulted.org or call 743-8842 option 1.
Western Maine Beekeepers Annual Bee School
Registration January 23, 2013 6:00 pm at Region 9 School, Mexico, Maine. C
lasses are weekly on Wednesday at 6:30 pm – 11 weeks total.
Cost is $40.00 – including books.
Call or email Carol Cottrill (364-0917 WMBA@roadrunner.com) for more information.
No pre-registration is required.
Somerset Beekeepers
Sponsored by the Somerset County Cooperative Extension, our school for beginning beekeepers will begin on February 12th, 2013. Consisting of 5 classes to prepare newbees for the big plunge into the world of beekeeping. The course will give the student a basic understanding of bees and how to establish their first colonies. It will cover protective gear and beekeeping tools needed to get started, as well as seasonal colony management and integrated pest management.
Led by Samantha Burns.
Cost is $40 (includes course manual & 1 year membership with the Somerset Beekeepers).
Course information PDF
Or call the Somerset Cooperative Extension for more info: 474-9622
Introduction to Beekeeping Course
Presented by: University of Maine Cooperative Extension Washington County Office
When: February 26th, March 5th, March 12th, March 19th, March 26th (snow date April 5th) and a Beekeepers Field Day on a Saturday in May or June to be announced.
This 6-session class will take place Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.
Where: Washington County Extension Office
28 Center Street
Machias, ME 04654 207-255-3345
Cost: The course fee is $50.00 per person/couple.
Course is limited to 15 people.
Register online
Registration deadline- Monday, February 11, 2013
Instructor- Andrew Dewey, Hobby Beekeeper and At-Large Board Member of the Maine State Beekeepers Association
Tri-County Beekeepers Club
Beginning beekeeper course in Ellsworth.
“Successful Beekeeping Course, 2013″
Monday evenings 6:30-8:30, March 25 through April 29 (not including April 1st) at the Handcock County Extension Center, 63 Boggy Brook Road, Ellsworth, Maine.
Contact Marjorie Peronto at Handcock Conty Extension Office (207-667-8212, or 800-287-1479) for information about registration.
Deadline for registration is March 11th, 2012.
More Bee Schools
Chris Rogers
Beginner bee school
Lake Region Adult Ed
Wednesdays 5:30-7:30 pm
January 9th-February 6th
Beekeeper field day April 12th
Instructor: Chris Rogers
Contact: www.crookedriver.maineadulted.org
627-4291
Beginner bee school
Windham/Raymond Adult Ed
Mondays 6:30-8:30 pm
January 28th-March 4th
Beekeeper field day April 12th
Instructor: Chris Rogers
Contact: adulted@windhamraymondschools.org
892-1819
EAS Master Beekeepers Certification Program
The purpose of the Master Beekeeper certification program is to identify and certify people who have a detailed knowledge of honey bee biology, expertise in the proper practices of beekeeping, and can present this information to the beekeeping and non-beekeeping public in a detailed, accurate, clear and authoritative manner. The goal of this program is to certify that those who are awarded the Master Beekeepers Certificate are competent at a college level in the four areas where they are tested.
The certification program will be conducted in conjunction with the annual EAS Conference. Certification will be coordinated by personnel who are designated by the Master Beekeeper Organization. More information »
