Bee Prepared - Beekeeping Class - March/April 2024

Have you fallen in love with the honey bees in your garden or during a visit to Beekeeping 101? Are you ready to take the next step to become a full-fledged beekeeper? Do you want to make 2024 your most memorable year ever? We have exactly the thing for you! 

This course provides the instruction and hands-on experience to turn a beginner into a confident backyard beekeeper. Topics include hive management, bee biology, recognizing and treating common diseases and predators, legal requirements of keeping bees in Long Beach, and more.

After completing the course successfully and at the club's discretion, participants are eligible to receive a starter bee colony at no additional cost -- subject to availability. Frames and other hive equipment are not included.  Please let us know if you want to adopt a colony and have your equipment.

This class is structured as follows:

• One in-person introductory group class on Saturday, March 30, from 9-11 a.m. at our Willow Springs Bee Sanctuary.
• Two evening online lectures on April 2 and April 9.
• Choose ONE 2-hour in-person mentorship session working in hives with an experienced beekeeper: April 13, April 14, April 20, April 21, April 27, April 28, 9-11AM (first come, first served). Students will be invited to the mentorship session via email after registration. NOTE: each person will need their own beekeeping suit, gloves, hive tool, and smoker for their scheduled mentorship session.

Please save these dates in your calendar: 3/30/24 9-11AM in person; 4/2/24 *and* 4/9/24 7-9PM online (via Zoom); one mentorship session (weekends, April). Mentor sessions are filled first come first served at the time of registration.