The 2025 Beekeeping Class for Beginners has sold out. Go here to register for the Stand-By list.
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Typical Course Program
Day 1:
8:30 – 9:00 Registration
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome by FCBA President/Introduction of FCBA members
9:15 – 9:30 Overview of the 2025 course
9:15 – 10:15 Biology of the European Honey Bee
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 11:15 The Langstroth Hive
11:00 – 11:45 Tools and Equipment for Beekeeping
11:45 – 12:00 Q & A
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 1:30 How to Choose an Apiary Site
1:30 – 2:15 Getting Bees into your Hive: nucs and packages
2:15 – 2:45 My first year as a beekeeper
2:45 – 3:00 Q&A
Day 2:
8:30 – 9:00 Registration
9:00 – 9:15 Review and Questions and introduction of vendors
9:15 – 10:15 The Beekeeping Year: Winter and Spring
10:15 – 10:30 Break/Vendors
10:30 – 11:30 The Beekeeping Year: Summer and Fall
11:30 – 12:00 Other Buzzing Insects
11:45 – 12:00 Q & A
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch/Vendors
1:00 – 1:45 Feeding Bees: Spring, Fall and Winter
1:45 – 2:45 Frames and Foundation…What works for you
2:45 – 3:30 Swarms
3:30 – 3:45 Q & A
Day 3:
8:30 – 9:00 Registration
9:00 – 9:15 Review and Questions
9:15 – 10:15 Harvesting Honey, Wax, and Products of the Hive
10:15 – 10:30 Break/Vendors
10:30 – 11:15 Pests and Diseases of Honey Bees, Integrated Pest Management
11:15 – 11:45 Maryland State apiary inspection program and hive registration
11:45 – 12:00 Getting Ready for Field Day
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 Parasites, Predators, Pathogens
2:00 – 3:00 Hands-on stations: Woodenware, Hive Inspection Basics, Lighting a Smoker, Installing Packages of Bees
3:00 – 3:30 Raffle & Closing