Bee School
Learn the essential skills necessary to becoming a great beekeeper! Held in January each year, and covering fundamental topics in Connecticut Beekeeping, this intensive 4-day workshop immerses you in the concepts needed for beekeeping success.
Get your start in beekeeping or brush up on your skills!
If you bought Bee School tickets, video replay is included, and you do not need to re-purchase here. Please reach out if you didn't receive video links.
Are you new to beekeeping?
Get started on the right track. From terminology to setup and organization of your first hive to coverage of diseases that affect bees and honey production here in the Northeast, our Bee School sessions offer instruction and guidance from knowledgeable beekeepers and experienced professionals.
Already an experienced beekeeper?
Learn more about winterizing your colony or fighting disease, discuss the latest techniques and get advice from local professionals, swap stories, and elevate your beekeeping knowledge. Join CBA and sign in to use your membership discount.
Topics Include:
Beekeeping Terminology and Basic Equipment
The Colony and Its Organization
Getting Started with a Packet of Bees
Colony Management
Suburban Area Hive Management
Seasonal Hive Management
Fall and Winter Preparations
Bee Diseases and Colony Registration
Schedule
Session 1 - Saturday, January 11th
Basic Terminology and Equipment, with Walter Schwarz
The Colony and Its Organization, with Bill Hesbach
Session 2 - Saturday, January 18th
Setting Up Your Hive in Suburban Areas, with Dr. Dewey Caron
Getting Started in Beekeeping, with Dr. Dewey Caron
Session 3 - Saturday, January 27th
Navigating the Management of Your New Colony Through the Seasons, with Bill Hesbach
Session 4 - Saturday, February 1st
Bee Diseases, Pest Management and the Registration of Your Colonies, with Paula Wolfe
INSTRUCTORS
Dr. Dewey M. Caron
Dr. Dewey M. Caron, Emeritus Professor of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware and Affiliate Professor at Oregon State University, is a renowned entomologist with extensive expertise in honey bee biology and management. After retiring in 2009, Dr. Caron moved to Portland, Oregon, where he remains highly active in bee education, writing, and outreach. He has authored numerous publications, including the widely-used textbook Honey Bee Biology & Beekeeping and The Complete Bee Handbook. Dr. Caron is deeply involved in organizations like the Eastern Apicultural Society (EAS) and Western Apicultural Society (WAS), where he has served in leadership roles and contributed to initiatives like the Honey Bee Health Coalition. He continues to conduct surveys, write for major bee magazines, and deliver bee courses and presentations nationwide.
Bill Hesbach
Bill Hesbach is a Connecticut native with a background in engineering. He's an Eastern Apicultural Society Certified Master Beekeeper and graduate of the University of Montana's Master Beekeeping Program. Bill is on the Board of Directors for the Eastern Apicultural Society, and is President of the Connecticut Beekeepers Association. Bill teaches bee biology and beekeeping methods at events hosted by regional organizations, and appears as a guest speaker at national seminars. He's a published author, with articles appearing in Bee Culture, Bee Craft, and The American Bee Journal.
Walter Schwarz
Walter Schwarz is a Master Beekeeper from Cheshire, Connecticut. He learned the basics of beekeeping from Dr. Chip Taylor at the University of Kansas. He earned his Master Beekeeper certification through the Midwest Master Beekeeping Program, under the guidance of Dr. Marion Ellis at the University of Nebraska. Walter has a passion for teaching and has mentored dozens of new beekeepers in Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and Connecticut. He is the secretary of the Connecticut Beekeepers Association, where he manages its mentorship program.
Paula Wolf
State Bee Inspector