Annual favorites are DelVal's beekeeping courses. Late spring through mid-summer bring two or three different levels of courses for those looking to begin keeping or hoping to expand their apiary.
Spaces are limited!
Please see below for current course listings. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see what is coming up as well. Join our email list today!
BEEKEEPING COURSES
Bee sure to check out Vincent Aloyo, Ph.D.’s video lecture on The Importance of Honey Bees as well to learn more about these fascinating insects!
Are bees making a comeback? You may have heard that the bee population is under threat in recent years. Bees are critical for our environment and food production - a dwindling population could affect our ability to grow fruits and vegetables. But, The Washington Post recently reported that America’s honeybee population is at an all-time high. Dr. Vincent Aloyo joins Matt Leon, host of KYW Newsradio's In-Depth Podcast, to talk about why we need bees, why their numbers decreased, and what we can do to keep the bee population on track.
Introductory Beekeeping
This weekend course is designed for hobbyists, beginning beekeepers or for experts needing a refresher. In this course you will learn about:
- Honey bee biology and behavior
- Building an apiary and harvesting honey
- Apiary equipment and supplies
- Management practices for each season
2024 Dates
(4 days; 2 Saturdays and 2 Sundays)
- Saturday and Sunday, July 13 and 14
- Saturday and Sunday: July 27 and 28
Classes run 9 am - 4 pm.
Classes are held on main campus, Delaware Valley University.
Equipment needs: Participants should bring a bee veil and a three-ring loose-leaf binder. Please note that gloves are not allowed in the apiary.
Instructor: Vincent Aloyo, Ph.D, Master Beekeeper
- Location TBA in a follow-up email to registrants.
For details regarding pricing and specifics, please click on the registration link.
Queen Rearing
The benefits of raising your own queen include: queens adapted to your environment, avoiding southern queens that may have mated with Africanized drones, and establishing your own nucleus colonies. Designed for the experienced beekeeper, this course will include the basics of:
- Queen rearing
- Grafting larvae
- The Mike Palmer method of queen rearing
- You will have the option of taking your queen cells home.
Prerequisites: Attendees must have some beekeeping experience
2025 Dates
- Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25
Classes run 9 am - 4 pm.
Classes are held on main campus, Delaware Valley University.
Queen Cell Pickup is 10-11 days after class.
Equipment Needs:
- Bee veil
- Magnifying goggles are helpful if you have them.
Note: Gloves are not allowed in the apiary
Instructor: Vincent Aloyo, Ph.D., Master Beekeeper
Location: TBA in a follow-up email to registrants.
For details regarding pricing and specifics, please click on the registration link.