Description
Schedule and Agenda for the Beek Apprenticeship and Practical:
All times are in Central Standard Time. Once you register we will provide you access to a google calendar with all dates and times!
Beek Apprentices Workshops (Virtual Sessions held on Wednesdays and Thursdays)
Sessions will be recorded and available for several weeks after live airing in case you can’t make the live session! Each month you will receive a link to a password protected website with readings ahead of each session that you will be expected to complete before class.
Session 1: February 27, 2025 6-9pm CST
Introductions, Honey Bee Biology + Behavior, Honey Bee Equipment and Tools,
OPTIONAL Office Hours: March 19, 7-8pm
Session 2 April 3, 2025 6-9pm
Hive Inspection 101, Lighting Your Smoker, Setting up your Site
OPTIONAL Office Hours: April 16, 7-8pm
Session 3: April 24, 2025 6-9pm
Honey Bee Nutrition, Installing Nucs + Packages, Catching and Baiting Swarms,
OPTIONAL Office Hours: May 7, 7-8pm
Session 4: May 14, 2025 6-9pm
Queen Bee Biology, Preventing Swarming, Making Splits and Combines
OPTIONAL Office Hours: May 28, 2024 7-8pm
Session 5: June 12, 2025 6-9pm
Honey Bee Pheromones, Properties of Honey, Nectar Flows, Honey Crystallization
OPTIONAL Office Hours: June 25, 7-8pm
Session 6: July 10, 2025 6-9pm
Removing Bees from Supers, Honey Extraction, Working with Beeswax, Making Products from Propolis
OPTIONAL Office Hours: July 23, 7-8pm
Session 7: Aug 14, 2025 6-9pm
Robbing Bees, Integrated Pest Management, Testing for Varroa Mites
OPTIONAL Office Hours: Aug 27, 7-8pm
Session 8 Sept 11, 2025, 6-9pm
Winter Preparation, The Business of Beekeeping, TBD
OPTIONAL Office Hours: September 24 7-8pm
Beek Practical Sessions: Held in person at the Honey Ranch in Austin, TX (Saturdays and Sundays)
If you need to miss a session, you can make up to 2 sessions with a later group!
Please keep in mind that the hands-on practical is a VERY dynamic program, and we stay flexible to allow you the most complete experience available. For example, if we get a swarm call nearby the night before a practical, we will alert you all via phone of the change in schedule so we can divert and you can experience a swarm capture! Below is a syllabus whose content can change based on new unique opportunities presented to us.
Practical 1: Mar 2, 2025, 1-5pm
Building Equipment and General Familiarization, Honey Bee Colony Familiarization, Work Bees
Practical #2 April 6, 2025 1-5pm
Lighting your Smoker, Moving the Equipment in a Bee Yard, Performing Hive Inspections, Work Bees
Practical #3 April 27, 2025 9am-1pm
Installing Bees, Making Sugar Syrup + Pollen Patties, Hanging + Baiting Swarm Traps
Practical #4 May 17, 2025 9am-1pm
Making Nucs, “Low-Tech” Queen Rearing, Nectar Flow Checklist, Work Bees
Practical #5 July 12, 2025 9am-1pm
Honey Extraction, Using a Fume Board, Making Products from Beeswax
Practical #6 Sep 14, 2025, 9-1pm
Winter Preparation, Feeding Fall Bees, Testing for Varroa, Work Bees