Become a beekeeper.
Following the guidance of our national experts, we are doing our part to keep everyone safe and will not hold any on-campus programs this summer. Follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts to see what is coming up next! Join our email list.
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. Current year class dates are usually published in the early spring. Use the contact us online link on the right to let us know you are interested in the next set of classes.
BEEKEEPING COURSES
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
Course #APR 101 002
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.
Cost: $292
Instructor: Vincent Aloyo, Ph.D, Master Beekeeper
- Saturday, July 17, 2021, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Sunday, July 18, 2021, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Saturday, July 31, 2021, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Sunday, August 1, 2021, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Location TBA in follow-up email to registrants.
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 Cloake board method of queen rearing
- You will have the option of taking your queen cells home.
Prerequisites: Attendees must have some beekeeping experience
Equipment Needs:
- Bee veil
- Three-ring loose leaf binder
- Magnifying goggles are helpful if you have them.
Note: Gloves are not allowed in the apiary
Cost: $219
Instructor: Vincent Aloyo, Ph.D., Master Beekeeper
- Saturday, May 15, 2021, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Sunday, May 16, 2021, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Queen Cell Pickup: Tuesday, May 25, 4-6 p.m. (Location TBA in follow-up email to registrants)