Description

The Beekeeping for Veterans program is for MN veterans and active service-members with any level of beekeeping experience (including no experience). We will deepen our knowledge of honey bee biology and our connection to these incredible pollinators. All workshops are free, but space is limited and pre-registration is required for most events. Participants must be 18 years or older, unless otherwise noted.

2026 schedule

Hands-on Beekeeping Workshops at the Bee Vets teaching apiary

UMN beekeepers will lead hands-on apiary workshops at the Bee Vets teaching apiary, located near the MSP airport. Bee veils and bee jackets will be provided for participants to wear during apiary workshops, although participants may choose to wear their own protective equipment. Participants are required to wear face protection (bee veil or jacket), long pants, and closed-toe shoes in the apiary. Each workshop includes time to suit up and enter the apiary, instruction on basic and advanced beekeeping techniques, and tips on seasonal bee management. For the safety of all, participants must be over 18 and no animals other than service animals are allowed in the apiary. Pre-registration is required.

The hands-on workshops will be held on the following dates:

• Sunday, May 3 from 2:00-4:00pm
• Thursday, May 14 from 12:00-1:30pm
• Sunday, June 7 from 2:00-4:00pm
• Sunday, July 19 from 2:00-4:00pm
• Sunday, August 9 from 2:00-3:30pm
• Thursday, August 13 from 12:00-1:30pm
• Sunday, September 13 from 2:00-4:00pm
• Sunday, October 11 from 2:00-3:00pm

Honey Extraction Demo at the Bee Lab

Bee Vets instructors will demonstrate methods to harvest honey with supers pulled from the Bee Vets teaching apiary. Participants should be dressed to get sticky! This event will be held on Tuesday, August 11 from 6:00-8:00pm at the UMN Bee Lab on the University of MN St. Paul campus (1634 Gortner Ave, St. Paul, MN 55113). Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

Welcome Event and Open House at the Bee Lab

To kick off the 2026 beekeeping season, we are hosting a Welcome Event at the UMN Bee Lab on the University of MN St. Paul campus (1634 Gortner Ave, St. Paul, MN 55113). If you are interested in learning more about the Beekeeping for Veterans program, join us at the Bee Lab to meet instructors Ben, Joshua, and Jessica, try on beekeeping equipment, and get an overview of the program. We will not be working in the apiary or opening honeybee colonies at this event. Pre-registration is appreciated, but not required. The Welcome Event will be held on Sunday, April 12 from 12:00-1:00pm.

To wrap up the 2025 beekeeping season, we will host an Open House at the Bee Lab on the University of MN St. Paul campus (1634 Gortner Ave, St. Paul, MN 55113). Veterans are invited to bring their families, children, and friends to take a tour of the Bee Lab, sample honey from the Bee Vets hives, and participate in pollinator education activities. Pre-registration is appreciated, but not required. The Open House will be held on Sunday, November 8, 1:00-4:00pm.

A note about bee stings

Beekeeping gloves are available at all hands-on workshops and instructors will work with all participants to demonstrate techniques to minimize stings to the beekeeper and disruption to the bees, but we cannot guarantee that participants will not be stung during our classes. Please feel free to contact us (ma-bees@umn.edu) with questions prior to registration or attending class!

Program contacts and instructors

Jessica Helgen
ma-bees@umn.edu

Ben Ziegler
ziegl344@umn.edu

Katie Lee
katielee@umn.edu

Registration help:
ext-reg@umn.edu

Registration help

Extension Learning Technologies (ELT)
ext-reg@umn.edu

To register by phone

We encourage learners to register online using our secure portal, available 24 hours a day. However, if you wish to register by phone, Extension registration professionals are here to help. Please contact us using one of the following methods. We will be in touch within three business days.

• Send us a message requesting registration by phone: z.umn.edu/registrationhelp (preferred)
• or call our voicemail line to leave a message, referencing Beekeeping for Veterans 2026, at (612) 626-5174