Beekeeping Courses in NC

NOTICE to NCSBA County Chapters:  To have your beekeeping course listed here, send complete information to the .  If you plan to offer the Certified Beekeeper written test following the course, you must follow these instructions at least 4 weeks in advance.

Beekeeping Summer School

Carteret County (Morehead City)

Title:	Beginning Beekeeping Class
Begins:	July 28, 2009 (for 2 weeks)
When:	Tue/Thur 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Where:	Room 306 of the CMAST building, on the campus of Carteret Community College, Morehead City, NC
Cost:
Sponsor:	Carteret County Cooperative Extension and Crystal Coast Beekeepers
Additional Information:	Textbook is Honey Bees and Beekeeping, A Year in the Life of an Apiary, Third Edition, by Keith Delaplane. Field trip to an apiary to be scheduled.
Contact:	Cindy at Carteret Cooperative Extension Office at 252-222-6359

Concluded Courses (chronological order)

Chatham County (Pittsboro) Concluded

Title:	Beekeeping School
Begins:	January 5, 2009 (for 9 weeks except Jan. 19)
When:	Mondays 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Where:	Chatham County Cooperative Extension, 45 South Street, Pittsboro, NC in basement auditorium (map links)
Cost:	$35 (resource notebook included)
Sponsor:	Chatham County Beekeepers Association
Additional Information:
Contact:

Henderson County (Fletcher) Concluded

Title:	Beekeeping Course
Begins:	January 12, 2009 (for 6 weeks)
When:	Mondays 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Where:	Mountain Horticultural Research and Extension Center, 455 Research Drive, Fletcher, NC (map)
Cost:	Free
Sponsor:	NC Cooperative Extension and the Henderson County Beekeepers Association
Additional Information:	At completion of the Short Course you should be able to set up and maintain your own colony of honeybees. This is a free course but you must pre-register, because space is limited.
Contact:

Alamance County (Burlington) Concluded

Title:	Beginners Beekeeping Course
Begins:	January 13, 2009 (for 10 weeks)
When:	Tuesdays 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Where:	Cooperative Extension Service/Agricultural Building, 209 North Graham-Hopedale Road, Burlington-- two blocks north of North Church Street (US 70) and across the street from the old Western Electric Plant
Cost:	$5 building use fee plus $22 for handbook
Sponsor:	Alamance County Beekeepers
Additional Information:	Our classroom sessions will be followed by a 4-hour Field Day, Saturday, March 21
Contact:

Hoke County (Raeford) Concluded

Title:	Hoke County Bee School
Begins:	January 13, 2009 (for 10 weeks)
When:	Tuesdays 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Where:	Hoke County Cooperative Extension Service 116 West Prospect Ave. Raeford, NC (directions)
Cost:	$35 per person (Includes textbooks, handouts)
Sponsor:	Hoke County Beekeepers
Additional Information:	Preregistration required, All students are encouraged to become involved in the Master Beekeeping Program. Certification level exam given on the last day of class, practical will be at the field day. Free hive with bees drawing for qualified participants. Field day March 21, Raindate March 28. Youth participation encouraged and welcomed.
Contact:

Caswell County (Yanceyville) Concluded

Title:	Beginners Beekeeping Course
Begins:	January 14,  2009  (for 11 weeks)
When:	Wednesdays 7:00-9:00 PM
Where:	Farm Service Agency beside the Historic Court House on the square in downtown Yanceyville.
Cost:	$35 for tuition ($45 a couple), covers reference book and CCBA membership
Sponsor:	Caswell County Beekeepers Association
Additional Information:	Course to be followed by a 4 hr field day to gain a little hands-on experience in working with the bees. Date and time to be determined.
Contact:

Person County (Roxboro) Concluded

Title:	Beekeeping Course
Begins:	January 20,  2009 (for 9 weeks)
When:	Tuesdays 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Where:	Person County Center, 304 S. Morgan Street, Roxboro, NC 27573 (map)
Cost:	$25 (includes notebook)
Sponsor:	Person County Beekeepers and Cooperative Extension Service
Additional Information:	Register through the Cooperative Extension Office
Contact:

Cabarrus County (Concord) Concluded

Title:	Beekeeping Series
Begins:	January 20,  2009 (for 9 weeks)
When:	Tuesdays 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Where:	Cabarrus County Center, 715 Cabarrus Avenue-West, Concord, NC
Cost:	$23
Sponsor:	Cabarrus County Beekeepers and Cooperative Extension Service
Additional Information:
Contact:

Rowan County (Salisbury) Concluded

Title:	Beginning/Intermediate Beekeeping Course
Begins:	January 22, 2009 ( for 9 weeks)
When:	Thursdays, 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Where:	NC Cooperative Extension, Rowan County Center, 2727-A Old Concord Road, Salisbury, NC 28146 (map)
Cost:	$20
Sponsor:	Rowan County Beekeepers Association and the NC Cooperative Extension, Rowan County Center
Additional Information:	A field day will follow the classes.
Contact:

McDowell County (Marion)) Concluded

Title:	Beekeeping Short Course
Begins:	January 31, 2009  (for 5 classes)
When:	Saturdays 9:00 AM-4:00 PM & Sundays 1:00-4:00 PM
Where:	Corpening Memorial YMCA multi-purpose room, 348 Grace Corpening Drive, Marion NC (map)
Cost:	Free
Sponsor:	McDowell Honeybees Chapter and NC Cooperative Extension Service
Additional Information:	Preregistration is required. Deadline is Jan. 28.
Contact:

Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) Concluded

Title:	Bee School for Beginning Beekeepers
Begins:	February 3,  2009 (for 8 weeks)
When:	Tuesdays 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Where:	Marion Diehl Park and Rec Center, 2219 Tyvola Rd, Charlotte
Cost:	$30 for materials, refreshments, membership, etc.
Sponsor:	Mecklenburg County Beekeepers Association
Additional Information:	Certified written exam (optional) to be given the last class. Pre-registration is encouraged; the course is expected to sell out. Non-member registration begins Dec. 15.
Contact:

Guilford County (Greensboro) Concluded

Title:	Beginner Beekeeping Course
Begins:	February 5, 2009 (for 6 weeks)
When:	Thursdays 7:00-9:00 PM
Where:	Guilford County Agriculture Center (directions) 3309 Burlington Rd, Greensboro, NC 27405
Cost:	$20 individual; $25 family. Includes book, handout, membership dues.
Sponsor:	Guilford County Beekeepers Association and NC State University Extension Service
Additional Information:
Contact:

Buncombe County (Asheville) Concluded

Title:	2009 Bee School
Begins:	February 7, 2009 (for 4 sessions)
When:	Saturdays (8:45 AM) & Sundays (1:00 PM)
Where:	Warren Wilson College, 701 Warren Wilson Rd, Swannanoa, NC (map)
Cost:	$35 (includes course materials and snacks)
Sponsor:	Buncombe County Beekeepers and North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service
Additional Information:	Preregistration is required on web site and payment must be mailed to reserve seat.
Contact:

Cape Fear Regional (Wilmington) Concluded

Title:	Beekeeping School
Begins:	February 10, 2009 (for 8 weeks)
When:	Tuesdays 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Where:	UNC-Wilmington campus, Wilmington NC
Cost:	$40.00 includes the textbook and local club annual dues
Sponsor:	Cape Fear Regional Beekeepers Association
Additional Information:	Couple and family discounts available. Also includes two Saturday field days in local beeyards. IMPORTANT: Pre-registration is required! Class size is limited!
Contact:

Watauga County (Boone) Concluded

Title:	Beginner Beekeeping Course
Begins:	February 21,  2009  (for 1 day)
When:	Saturday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Where:	IG Greer Auditorium, ASU campus (free parking located at Rivers Street Parking Deck)
Cost:	$15/individual or $20/family of 2
Sponsor:	Watauga County Beekeepers Association
Additional Information:	Pre-registration recommended to guarantee your spot. Field Day to be determined. Snow date is February 28 (same time, same place).
Contact:

Forsyth County (Winston-Salem) Concluded

Title:	Bee School 2009
Begins:	February 21, 2009  (for 8 weeks)
When:	Saturdays 9:00-11:30 AM (skips Mar. 7 & 21)
Where:	Forsyth County Agricultural Building, 1450 Fairchild Road, Winston-Salem (map)
Cost:	$40 includes registration and textbook
Sponsor:	Forsyth County Beekeepers Association and Forsyth Cooperative Extension Service
Additional Information:	Written and practical certification exam on April 11. Free hive given to some lucky qualifying beginners.
Contact:

Coastal Plains Beekeepers (Tarboro) Concluded

Title:	Beekeeping Short Course
Begins:	March 3, 2009 (for 5 weeks)
When:	Tuesdays 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Where:	Edgecombe County Administrative Building Family & Consumer Sciences Kitchen, 201 St. Andrews Street, Tarboro (map)
Cost:	Free
Sponsor:	Coastal Plain Beekeepers and Edgecombe Extension Center
Additional Information:
Contact:

Davie County (Mocksville) Concluded

Title:	Beekeeping Short Course
Begins:	March 13 ,  2009 (for 5 weeks)
When:	Fridays, 7:00-9:00 PM
Where:	Davie County Public Library, 371 N. Main Street, Mocksville, NC 27028 ( map)
Cost:	$10 for members, $15 for non-members. (Can join during 1st class to get the discount)
Sponsor:	Davie County Beekeepers Association
Additional Information:	Day in the Apiary to follow, date determined by weather conditions. There will be two drawings for a new hive to be given to two new beekeepers who attend all five classes and the apiary day. Taught by EAS Master Beekeeper Gregory Fariss.
Contact:

Wake County (Knightdale) Concluded

Title:	Beginning Beekeepers Workshop
Begins:	March 14, 2009 (for 1 day)
When:	Saturday March 14 @ 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Where:	Raleigh Police Club, 3500 Leonard Rd, Knightdale, NC (map)
Cost:	$30 includes book, handouts, and hotdog lunch
Sponsor:	Wake County Beekeepers Association
Additional Information:	Beginners are encouraged to attend one half hour prior to regular Wake County Beekeepers meeting January, February and March. Date for Working in the Hive TBA. Door Prizes (New Hives & Bees) for lucky winners
Contact:

Wilkes County (Wilkesboro) Concluded

Title:	Beginning Beekeepers Course
Begins:	March 14, 2009 ( for 4 weeks)
When:	Saturdays 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Where:	Farm Bureau Building (basement) on Hwy 268 E of N. Wilkesboro (map)
Cost:	$20 Course book, snacks and 1 year membership in Beekeepers of Wilkes Count included
Sponsor:	Beekeepers of Wilkes County and the NC Ag Extensoin Service
Additional Information:	A day in the beeyard will be held on April 18th, additional information will be provided at the course about this day.
Contact:

Swain County (Bryson City) Concluded

Title:	Beginning Beekeeping Crash Course
Begins:	March 21, 2009 (for 1 day)
When:	Saturday March 21 @ 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Where:	Swain County Extension Office, 5.5 miles west of Bryson City on U.S. 74 to the old Almond School. (map)
Cost:	$10, which covers the cost of lunch and reference materials
Sponsor:	Smoky Mountain Beekeepers
Additional Information:	Jennifer Berry, an agricultural research coordinator and lab manager at the University of Georgia Honey Bee Lab, will lead the bee school. Door prizes, which include several scholarship hives, also will be given.
Contact:

Richmond County (Rockingham) Concluded

Title:	Introduction to Beekeeping
Begins:	April 4, 2009 (for 1 day)
When:	Saturday 9:00 am - 12:00 noon + lunch + inspection
Where:	Richmond County Cooperative Extension office on Caroline St. in Rockingham
Cost:	$2, which covers the cost of lunch
Sponsor:	Richmond County Beekeeper Associatiion
Additional Information:	Field inspection of a working hive after lunch.
Contact: