Description

COVID-19 UPDATE: All Extension in-person meetings, classes, events are cancelled until May 31.

Registration is currently closed for this class. Please contact instructor Chris Schad (cschad@umn.edu) or the Mentoring Apiary Coordinator (ma-bees@umn.edu) for more information on online beekeeping mentoring options.

Are you new to beekeeping? Having trouble with successfully overwintering your colonies? Please join us for a series of 6 classes covering everything from fundamental beekeeping techniques to disease detection and in-depth management strategies. Each class will begin with a discussion about seasonal management topics, followed by hands-on training in the apiary. There will always be time to ask general beekeeping management questions.

By the end of the season you will have learned how to:

• Enter a colony safely, minimizing disruption to the bees and stings to the beekeepers
• Check for the queen and evaluate her health and quality
• Check for food resources and space requirements in the hive
• Anticipate and prevent supersedures and swarms
• Check for bacterial, viral, and fungal disease
• Measure Varroa mite levels and make a mite management plan
• Prepare your colonies to successfully survive the winter

COURSE FEE
$150

COURSE LOCATION
Quarry Hill Nature Center
701 Silver Creek Road NE
Rochester, MN 55906

COURSE SCHEDULE
Saturdays from 9:30-11:00am: May 16, June 13, July 11, August 22, September 19, October 17


COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• Taken Beekeeping in Northern Climates Year 1 or another basic beekeeping class or currently keeping bees
• Wear your own protective equipment (veil or bee jacket)
• Participants must be 18 years or older to enter the apiary
• Willing to learn gloveless beekeeping

GLOVELESS BEEKEEPING
One of the core tenets of the Bee Squad’s beekeeping philosophy is to enter colonies without wearing gloves. This allows the beekeeper to have the dexterity and sensory feedback to handle frames and bee boxes in a way that minimizes harm and disruption to the bees. For the safety of all students and instructors, we require that all participants do not wear gloves in our teaching apiaries. We believe that the ability to manage a hive of honey bees calmly and confidently under a wide range of conditions is one of the most important skills gained from our program. Please feel free to contact us with questions prior to registration or attending class!
 

COURSE CONTACT
Chris Schad
507.269.4954
cschad@umn.edu
 

REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE
ext-reg@umn.edu
 

GUEST ACCOUNT LOGIN / PASSWORD HELP
612.301.4357
help@umn.edu