Beekeeping Workshops

CBA offers beekeeping workshops from March through September at our Boulder Knoll Bee Yard in Cheshire, Connecticut. These workshops focus on best management practices for keeping healthy and productive colonies throughout the seasons. We offer learning experiences for Langstroth and top bar hive beekeepers.

Onsite Training and Hands-on Beekeeping Activities

Pre-registration Required

Our beekeeping workshops are open to the public, and donations are accepted onsite. Due to the popularity of events, Pre-registration is required so we can get an accurate count of attendees. Please register for each workshop you'd like to attend.

Safety & Attire

All participants at CBA bee yard activities or any other CBA-sponsored event involving live bees must be properly dressed and wear personal protective equipment designed specifically for beekeeping. Personal protection equipment and proper dress includes, but is not limited to, complete coverage of bare skin with light-colored clothing - nothing black. All participants must wear a proper bee veil or bee suit and closed-toed shoes at all times. Bees sting and inject venom, so if you are concerned about your reaction, please consult a physician before attending.

Weather & Cancellations

All Bee Yard Workshops are weather-dependent, and dates/times are subject to change. Please register to receive updates about changes to workshop scheduling.

Register to attend upcoming workshops

Register to attend upcoming Youth Workshops

Give kids a great head start in becoming backyard beekeepers!

Join Beekeepers Mike and Tim for CBA Kids Workshops. These on-site events are great opportunities for youth ages 6-13 to learn more about beekeeping and even get a chance to work some hives at the CBA Bee Yard. So kids, come join us each month starting in May to see what's happening in the hives, ask all of your bee-related questions, and build your beekeeping skills!

The workshops are geared towards kids, from the presentation to the hands-on learning to the Q&A. While each kid (or group of kids) needs a supervising adult to attend with them, any adult questions will get lowest priority.

Adult Supervision

This is not a drop-off program; kids need to be accompanied & supervised by a responsible adult. All participants and supervising adults are required to wear protective equipment. All participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible supervising adult at all times, and cannot attend Bee Yard activities or events alone.

Led by:

Tim Dutcher

Tim is the lead beekeeping instructor for Huneebee Project, a non-profit based in New Haven that connects youth to their environment through beekeeping. He began working with bees in the summer of 1999, and from the moment he first stepped into a bee yard, he could feel the buzz of the bees all the way into his bones and knew that beekeeping was for him. In his work as an environmental educator, Tim has introduced thousands of young people to the magic of beekeeping, through workshops, school visits, and most importantly, opening hives with them. Tim loves answering any and all questions about bees - bring your questions!

Mike Thomas

Mike is a hobbyist beekeeper, executive director of R&D/Engineering for a local medical device company, and active leader in BSA scouting in his hometown of West Hartford. His affection for all pollinators comes from growing up on a family farm in western Massachusetts. After many years of attending country fairs and seeing many observation hives, he finally took the plunge into beekeeping in the spring 2021 and has never looked back. His beekeeping educates his family, friends, and coworkers on the importance of pollinators and having them join in hive inspections and apiary visits. He has been in scouting leadership for the past 14 years, where he enjoys mentoring and guiding scouts of all ages. Michael loves spending time with family, friends, and being outdoors.