This is the final syllabus for 2026 Bee School. There will be lots of hands on teaching and plenty of time for questions. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early, class starts at 6:30pm so we can get everyone checked in.
| Session | Module | Class Time | Instructor / Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week One Jan 26, 2026 Postponed due to Weather | Introductions & Overview Objectives & Expectations Materials & Resources Books/Door Prizes (books and beekeeping supplies to be given as door prizes) Raffles- a hive! with Bees! Mentors Apiary Workshops | 10 Minutes | Dan Bowen, Education Director |
| Henderson County Cooperative Extension | 10 Minutes | Dr. Terry Kelley, County Extension Director | |
| Welcome to your journey into BeeKeeping | 20 Minutes | Gretchen Roe | |
| BREAK | BREAK | 10 Minutes | |
| Terminology & Parts of the Hive Demonstrations | 30 Minutes | Dan Bowen | |
| Breakout Sessions | 10 Minutes | ||
| Week Two Feb 2 2026 | Introduction | 10 Minutes | Dan Bowen, Education Director |
| Postponed due to Weather | Getting Started Packages and Nucs Where to obtain Bees How do I get them in the box. | 30 Minutes | Jim Poe and Pat Roe |
| BREAK | BREAK | 10 Minutes | |
| Hive Inspections Frequency Things beekeepers should be looking for in & around the hive Record keeping | 30 Minutes | Jim Poe and Pat Roe | |
| Breakout Session | 20 Minutes | ||
| Week Three Feb 9, 2026 | Introduction | 10 Minutes | Dan Bowen, Education Director |
| Life Cycle of the Bee Bee Biology- The Colony Superorganism Annual Cycle of the Colony The Honorary Mammal Communication Let’s Dance / 3 dances Frequencies / Vibrations Pheromones Bee Biology- The Individual Bee Life Cycle of Honey Bees Brood Development Cycle Adult Life Progression Anatomy Immune System Different Bees for Different Seasons Q & A | 60 Minutes | Chad Seik | |
| BREAK | BREAK | 10 Minutes | |
| Mentoring and Apiary | 20 Minutes | Antoine Ignizio, Apiary Director and new beekeepers Porter | |
| Breakout Session | 20 Minutes | ||
| Week Four Feb 23, 2026 | Introduction | 10 Minutes | Dan Bowen, Education Director |
| Seasonal Management Part 1 Spring- Summer (March-April) Inspections: Confirm expanding brood and room for expansion Check for adequate stores: honey and pollen ● Feeding options Sugar water, stored honey, dry sugar,pollen, etc | 40 Minutes | Scott Davis, Master Beekeeper | |
| BREAK | BREAK | 10 Minutes | |
| Observing the entrance- Who’s coming out of the hive: Foragers Orientation flights Guard bees Swarm Control- When? How? (Splits, nucs, etc.) Supering (Tulip poplar flow) Mite check Recordkeeping | 25 Minutes | Scott Davis, Master Beekeeper | |
| Bear Fences-It's Electric | 25 Minutes | Will Garvey | |
| Breakout Rooms | 20 Minutes | Scott on zoom, Shane and Jim - rooms 1&2 | |
| Week Five Mar 2, 2026 | Introduction | 10 Minutes | Dan Bowen, Education Director |
| Queen Events and Management | 50 Minutes | Shane Masterson | |
| BREAK | BREAK | 10 Minutes | |
| Feeding - why, what, when, and how | 30 Minutes | Helen Weinstein | |
| Week Six Mar 9, 2026 | Introduction | 10 Minutes | Dan Bowen, Education Director |
| Diseases and Parasites of the hive Invaders: Mites, SHB, Wax Months, etc Bacteria and Fungus: EFB, AFB, etc IPM | 50 Minutes | Lewis Cauble, Apiary Inspector at NC Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services | |
| BREAK | BREAK | 10 Minutes | |
| Treatments: Treatment Free, Hard and Soft Chemicals DriftWatch and BeeCheck | 50 Minutes | Lewis Cauble, Apiary Inspector | |
| Week Seven Mar 16, 2026 | Introduction | 10 Minutes | Dan Bowen, Education Director |
| Beekeeping Certification | 15 Minutes | Eric Ahlers | |
| BREAK | 10 Minutes | ||
| Q&A - Panel of new and experienced Beekeepers | ?? Minutes | Dan Bowen - Moderator | |
| Closing Comments | 10 Minutes | Dan Bowen, Shane Masterson |