Join instructors from the Bee Squad in our teaching apiary on the University of MN St. Paul campus for in-person workshops that will take you from spring to fall. Each class will focus on a specific seasonal management skill, with time for participants to try inspection techniques and ask questions about their own colonies. We encourage beekeepers to sign up for multiple workshops over the season. Depending on class size and topic, participants may be broken into groups based on experience. Beekeepers should come into the apiary with a basic understanding of honey bee biology and hive structure. We welcome experienced beekeepers as well as first year beekeepers and those who have taken the Beekeeping in Northern Climates course and want to try hive management before purchasing their own bees!
Mentoring Apiary Logistics
All Mentoring Apiary classes will be held at our Teaching Apiary on the UMN St. Paul campus from 2:00-3:30 PM on Sunday afternoons. Please pre-register by clicking on the registration link or sending an email to [email protected] by 8am on the morning of class. Parking is available in the parking lot of the UMN Turf Management building (2096 Roselawn Ave W, St Paul, MN 55113) and along Roselawn Avenue. Bee Squad instructors will meet the class in the parking lot for a brief discussion before walking a short distance to the apiary. The walk to the apiary covers uneven ground - please contact us with any questions or concerns about mobility and we will make every effort to make accommodations. If classes are cancelled due to weather, we will send an announcement via email by 8am on the morning of class and refund class fees.
Gloveless beekeeping: One of the core tenets of the Bee Squad’s beekeeping philosophy is to enter colonies without wearing gloves. This allows the beekeeper to have the dexterity and sensory feedback to handle frames and bee boxes in a way that minimizes harm and disruption to the bees. For the safety of all students and instructors, we require that all participants do not wear gloves in our teaching apiaries. We believe that the ability to manage a hive of honey bees calmly and confidently under a wide range of conditions is one of the most important skills gained from our program. However, we cannot guarantee that participants will not be stung during our classes. If you experience adverse reactions to bee stings, please consult with your doctor before attending a workshop. Feel free to contact us ([email protected]) with questions prior to registration or attending class!
