Classes Start in February
2026 Beginner Bee School
$200.00
This course is for the beginner to beekeeping. Our experts will guide you through your first year of beekeeping, covering equipment, bee biology, and basic management. We will discuss the many situations that a beekeeper will face over the year, and will provide hands-on experience in basic hive inspection and skills – designed so that each participant can learn a technique in class and return to apply it in their own hives. This course will focus on understanding the needs of bees and raising healthy colonies.
Face-to-face events (e.g., lectures, equipment build day, hands-on bee yard experiences) are currently scheduled and will be subject to the current CDC guidelines. Indoor events will be held in the large indoor meeting spaces provided by Matthaei Botanical Gardens. When weather permits, lectures may be held outdoors in the bee yard at the instructor’s discretion. Participants are expected to bring their own veils/protective clothing, and dress appropriately for working outdoors with bees. Some sort of veil/face protection is required for working in the apiary. We will use the club's teaching hives at Matthaei Botanical Gardens for hands-on skill training.
Participants generally choose to keep their own bees during this season, though it is not required. No equipment is required at the beginning of the course, as we will cover where and how to purchase everything. It is recommended that participants attend each class, as each session will cover new information.
Text: Bee school instructor Dave Pearce recommends an optional textbook: The Beekeeper's Handbook, 4th Edition, by Diana Sammataro. The cost is approximately $20 and is the student's responsibility above and beyond the course enrollment fee.
Note: Registering two (or more) people for Bee School? Please purchase/check out separately so we capture each learner's information individually.
2026 Intermediate Bee School
$200.00
This course is designed for individuals with some beekeeping experience. Students should have completed a season-long beekeeping course or have kept bees successfully through at least one winter and have a basic understanding of bee biology and management techniques. We will address management strategies for beekeepers who want to expand their apiaries and have more overwintering success or for those who feel like they are stuck as a beginner beekeeper year after year. We'll take a more in-depth look at swarm prevention, splits, overwintering hives, pests & disease treatment and prevention, and tricks of the trade. The classes are scheduled to be slightly ahead of when you would perform the tasks on your own hive, so you are prepared to manage your own hive through the season. The goal of this course is for participants to be able to identify their colony’s needs and to have the skills to keep a more sustainable apiary.
Face-to-face events (e.g., lectures, equipment build day, hands-on bee yard experiences) are currently scheduled and will be subject to the current CDC guidelines. Indoor events will be held in the large indoor meeting spaces provided by Matthaei Botanical Gardens. When weather permits, lectures may be held outdoors in the bee yard at the instructor’s discretion. Participants are expected to bring their own veils/protective clothing, and dress appropriately for working outdoors with bees. Some sort of veil/face protection is required for working in the apiary. We will use the club's teaching hives at Matthaei Botanical Gardens for hands-on skill training.
Text: Bee school instructor Dave Pearce recommends an optional textbook: The Beekeeper's Handbook, 4th Edition, by Diana Sammataro. The cost is approximately $20 and is the student's responsibility above and beyond the course enrollment fee.
Note: Registering two (or more) people for Bee School? Please check out one at a time so we can capture each learner's information individually.
After losing both of my hives in November 2019 during my first year of beekeeping, I went looking for answers. The answers came in the form of the excellent A2B2 Bee School! I was impressed by the time, care and patience David Pearce takes with each student beekeeper. He not only answers all the questions students ask, but goes the extra mile to follow-up with interesting bits of information that round out our beekeeping toolkits of knowledge. In my first year with A2B2 beekeeping, I've successfully dealt with a hive with a laying worker, re-queened that hive, managed mite issues, and learned how make sure my beehives remain healthy and protected from the harsh Michigan winters, all with David's outstanding mentorship. So far, as of January 2021, my hives are alive and well. Thank you A2B2 Beekeeping school for a great year of learning. I can't wait for Intermediate Beekeeping! |
I was a student in Beginning Beekeeping in 2020. As I have communicated to (instructor) Dave Pearce and sidekick Andrea, I was very fortunate to have them as instructors for this very knowledge rich curriculum. The magnitude of the hands-on and science-based experience has helped me immeasurably in my first year of beekeeping. The presentation material was great, laced with appropriate humor, and the facilitation of open discussions was valuable. Dave and Andrea were always available (e-mail, text, cell, etc.) for, and responded to, questions. Additionally, I want to note their perseverance in that all training was completed despite the covid19 virus countermeasures. I highly recommend The Beginning Beekeeping class. |
