The class of Bee School 2020 has graduated. Congratulations to all.

The class of 2021 will start on January 26, 2021. Registration will open the beginning of Sept. The registration form will be available the end of August.

If you are interested in learning about or becoming a beekeeper make sure you register early.  Applications for Bee School are accepted until the class fills which in years past has been mid December.

Is Bee School for you?

If you are thinking about becoming a beekeeper, there are many things to learn before embarking on this wonderful adventure. Our bee school is a combination of hands-on demonstrations and lecture-led discussions that will teach you everything you need to know to get started on this fascinating hobby.

Over the course of ten weeks, students will learn from more experienced beekeepers. The course covers bee equipment, bee biology and anatomy, starting your first hive, products of the hive, bee friendly vegetation, and many other bee related subjects. In addition, you will get to watch a variety of movies on beekeeping and honeybee.

Bee School is perfect for people who are interested in bees and beekeeping. This is the course that will help you decide whether beekeeping is right for you.

Every year Bee School fills to capacity with a limit of 100 students. Registration begins on September 1st for the following winter classes. When the limit of 100 students is reached those forms received after this will be put in a waiting list.

Bee School Information And Schedule

Classes start the last week of January. There will be ten classes which are held on Tuesdays, starting 7 p.m. and ending between 9 p.m. - 9:30 pm at the Norfolk Agricultural High School in the main auditorium. Class dates for 2020 are: January 28; February 4, 11, and 25; March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31st: April 7th.

Cost of Bee School and Registering

The cost of bee school is $80.00 per person and $20 for one additional family member from the same household. We produced our own course manual for this year. The manual is free with a limit of one per family. The additional benefits of bee school is that you get additional materials, beekeeping catalogs, supplemental handouts, sign up for a mentor, and a one-year membership in the club. For additional information please contact the Bee School Administrative Director, Dana Wilson, at dwilson831@gmail.com.

Suggested Reading List

We have generated a list of the best beekeeping books as recommended by current bee school teachers. Our suggestion is that you get some of these books from your local library before buying. Please download the Recommended Reading List (Complete with contact information)

THE INFORMATION BELOW IS FOR THE 2020 CLASS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DOWNLOAD ANY OF THIS INFORMATION.

2020 Bee School Schedule: Dates, Location, Topics

Here is the link to the 2020 Bee School Schedule of classes  Bee School Schedule 2020.

Bee School Presentations
Session 1

Here is a PDF of the presentation given on the first night. First night presentation.

Session 2

Here is the PDF of the Honeybee Anatomy and Biology presentation. Bee Anatomy and Biology
Here is the PDF of the Equipment Review. Equipment Review
Here is the PDF for the Test on Bee Biology-Anatomy. Bee Biology-Anatomy test
Here is the PDF for the Test answers on Bee Biology-Anatomy. Bee Biology-Anatomy answers
Here is the PDF for the “Equipment Test”. Equipment Test
Here is the PDF for Equipment Test answers. Equipment “Test Answers”

Session 3

Here is the PDF of the Apiary Site Selection Image. Apiary Site Selection Image
Here is the PDF of the Apiary Site Selection. Apiary Site Selection
Here is the PDF of the Installing a Package. Installing a Package
Here is the PDF of the Installing a Nuc. Installing a Nuc
Here is the PDF for the Test on Installing a Package. Installing a Package test
Here is the PDF for the Test answers on Installing a Package. Installing a Package answers
Here is a link to package installation videos. Package Installation Videos

Session 4

Here is the PDF of the Treatment for Varroa Mites presentation. Treatment for Varroa Mites
Here are the talking point of Diseases & Pests presentation. Diseases & Pests
Here is the PDF for the test Pests & Diseases Pests & Diseases TEST
Here is the PDF for the test answers for Pests and Diseases Pests & Diseases TEST
ANSWERS

Session 5

Here is the PDF for the Spring Summer Management Timeline Sheet (2015). Spring Summer Management Timeline Sheet (2015)
Here is the PDF of the Spring Management Presentation. Spring Management
Here is the PDF of the Session 5 TEST. Session 5 TEST
Here is the PDF of the Session 5 TEST answers. Session 5 TEST ANSWERS

Session 6

Here is the PDF of the Swarm Control Preparations. Swarm Control

Session 7

Here is the PDF of the Fall/Winter Management Presentation. Fall/Winter Management
Here is the PDF for the Fall/Winter Management Presentation TEST. Fall/Winter Management TEST
Here is the PDF for the Fall/Winter Management TEST ANSWERS. Fall/Winter Management TEST ANSWERS
Here is the PDF of the Mentor Guidelines. Mentor Guidelines

Session 8

Here is the PDF of the Extraction Presentation. Extraction

Session 9

Here is the PDF of the Pollen/Nectar Presentation. Pollen/Nectar
Here is the PDF of the Plant List. Plant List

Session 10

Here is the PDF of the Final Test (2020). Final Test(2020)
Here is the PDF of the Final Test Answers (2020). Final Test Answers(2020)