2020 SABA Beekeeping Classes
OnLine Registration Only
Registration is online only, done by clicking on the registration button above each class.
The buttons are removed when the class is sold out.
If you have questions, please contact SABA Class Coordinator, Dave Watson, info@sababeekeepers.org
The buttons are removed when the class is sold out.
If you have questions, please contact SABA Class Coordinator, Dave Watson, info@sababeekeepers.org
SACRAMENTO AREA BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION CLASSES
Who benefits from SABA classes? The beginning class course content is designed for those wanting to explore beekeeping or for beginner beekeepers interested in deeper knowledge. Participants need not have prior experience nor have already decided you want to manage bees. Whether you have taken other classes, have some beekeeping experiences or are a seasoned beekeeper, SABA will be quite informative. Classes will help you understand how beekeeping practices are evolving to keep pace with the increasing difficulties honey bee colonies are facing today. More advanced techniques are explained in detail in the Advanced classes, which emphasize hands-on learning.
Our courses are taught by experienced beekeepers and are meant to provide practical skills and knowledge to beekeepers of various skill levels and beekeeping philosophies. Taking classes from different instructors is highly recommended. While there may be some redundancy, you’ll be exposed to a range of methods, which will help you choose how you want to manage your bees. Based on feedback from many participants, we recommend that you take one or more classes before you get your first bees, and a ‘repeat’ class after you’ve started. The information you get in a second or even third class will have new meaning for you, and you’ll have the opportunity to find answers to the questions that will inevitably arise as you begin or continue your beekeeping journey.
CLASS INFORMATION:
Location: UC Cooperative Extension, 4145 Branch Center Road, Sacramento, CA 95827. This building is on Kiefer Blvd, just west of Bradshaw Rd, south of Hwy 50.
Please refer to class information below for individual class times. Light refreshments will be provided. If you have questions or need to additional details, contact Class Coordinator, Dave Watson, at info@sacbeekeepers.org
REGISTRATION:
All registration and payment per class must be completed using the online registration links. SABA classes fill quickly and are offered on first-come, first-served basis.
Who benefits from SABA classes? The beginning class course content is designed for those wanting to explore beekeeping or for beginner beekeepers interested in deeper knowledge. Participants need not have prior experience nor have already decided you want to manage bees. Whether you have taken other classes, have some beekeeping experiences or are a seasoned beekeeper, SABA will be quite informative. Classes will help you understand how beekeeping practices are evolving to keep pace with the increasing difficulties honey bee colonies are facing today. More advanced techniques are explained in detail in the Advanced classes, which emphasize hands-on learning.
Our courses are taught by experienced beekeepers and are meant to provide practical skills and knowledge to beekeepers of various skill levels and beekeeping philosophies. Taking classes from different instructors is highly recommended. While there may be some redundancy, you’ll be exposed to a range of methods, which will help you choose how you want to manage your bees. Based on feedback from many participants, we recommend that you take one or more classes before you get your first bees, and a ‘repeat’ class after you’ve started. The information you get in a second or even third class will have new meaning for you, and you’ll have the opportunity to find answers to the questions that will inevitably arise as you begin or continue your beekeeping journey.
CLASS INFORMATION:
Location: UC Cooperative Extension, 4145 Branch Center Road, Sacramento, CA 95827. This building is on Kiefer Blvd, just west of Bradshaw Rd, south of Hwy 50.
Please refer to class information below for individual class times. Light refreshments will be provided. If you have questions or need to additional details, contact Class Coordinator, Dave Watson, at info@sacbeekeepers.org
REGISTRATION:
All registration and payment per class must be completed using the online registration links. SABA classes fill quickly and are offered on first-come, first-served basis.
Beginner Beekeeping Series - Four 1/2 Day Classes
$180/person
This four-session series is designed for individuals new to beekeeping or those seeking deeper beekeeping knowledge. The four ½ day sessions will take participants through the annual cycle of beekeeping with practical skills including establishing a hive, caring for bees through the seasons, integrated pest management, troubleshooting, harvesting honey and preparing for winter. Each session will be a combination of lecture and hands-on practice led by knowledgeable instructors. All participants will receive the book First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith Delaplane at the first class session. Registration includes all four sessions and refunds will not be given for cancellation of any classes in the series.
Dates and Topics:
Sun, January 19th, 9 am - 1 pm - Overview of Series and Getting Ready for Bees
Sun, March 29th , 9 am - 1 pm - Managing the Colony and IPM (open hive demonstration)
Sat, June 20th, 9 am - 1 pm - Troubleshooting & Summer Beekeeping (open hive demonstration)
Sat, Aug 22nd, 9 am - 1 pm - Honey, Products of the Hive, Preparing for Winter
If you are unable to attend all 4 classes in this series, links to individual classes and detailed descriptions of topics of each class in the series are found at the bottom of this page.
$180/person
This four-session series is designed for individuals new to beekeeping or those seeking deeper beekeeping knowledge. The four ½ day sessions will take participants through the annual cycle of beekeeping with practical skills including establishing a hive, caring for bees through the seasons, integrated pest management, troubleshooting, harvesting honey and preparing for winter. Each session will be a combination of lecture and hands-on practice led by knowledgeable instructors. All participants will receive the book First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith Delaplane at the first class session. Registration includes all four sessions and refunds will not be given for cancellation of any classes in the series.
Dates and Topics:
Sun, January 19th, 9 am - 1 pm - Overview of Series and Getting Ready for Bees
Sun, March 29th , 9 am - 1 pm - Managing the Colony and IPM (open hive demonstration)
Sat, June 20th, 9 am - 1 pm - Troubleshooting & Summer Beekeeping (open hive demonstration)
Sat, Aug 22nd, 9 am - 1 pm - Honey, Products of the Hive, Preparing for Winter
If you are unable to attend all 4 classes in this series, links to individual classes and detailed descriptions of topics of each class in the series are found at the bottom of this page.
Monday, March 9, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
$45/person
Instructor: Kitty Bolte, Xerces Society, Pollinator Habitat Specialist
Participants will learn about native bees, pollinators, pollinator habitats including forage plants for bees and identifying various native bees found in our region.
$45/person
Instructor: Kitty Bolte, Xerces Society, Pollinator Habitat Specialist
Participants will learn about native bees, pollinators, pollinator habitats including forage plants for bees and identifying various native bees found in our region.
Sunday, March 15, 9 am—4 pm—Beginner Beekeeping Class
$60/person
Instructor: Bernardo Nino, UC Davis, EL Nino Bee Lab
Topics: lecture and hands-on hive inspection, beekeeping equipment, colony installation, keeping your colony healthy, bee biology, honey bee integrated pest management (IPM), monitoring varroa mites, challenges to bees/beekeepers, products of the hive.
Instructor bio:
Bernardo Niño has been working with honey bees for many years and is Staff Research Associate in the E.L. Niño Bee Lab in the UC Davis Dept. of Entomology and Nematology. He serves as the Program Supervisor for the California Master Beekeeper Program (CAMBP), leads large scale field studies investigating multiple aspects of Varroa mite infestation on honey bee health, supports multiple research projects, as well as teaches and develops courses for the E.L. Niño Bee Lab and CAMBP.
$60/person
Instructor: Bernardo Nino, UC Davis, EL Nino Bee Lab
Topics: lecture and hands-on hive inspection, beekeeping equipment, colony installation, keeping your colony healthy, bee biology, honey bee integrated pest management (IPM), monitoring varroa mites, challenges to bees/beekeepers, products of the hive.
Instructor bio:
Bernardo Niño has been working with honey bees for many years and is Staff Research Associate in the E.L. Niño Bee Lab in the UC Davis Dept. of Entomology and Nematology. He serves as the Program Supervisor for the California Master Beekeeper Program (CAMBP), leads large scale field studies investigating multiple aspects of Varroa mite infestation on honey bee health, supports multiple research projects, as well as teaches and develops courses for the E.L. Niño Bee Lab and CAMBP.
Sunday, May 3, 9am—4 pm –Advanced Beekeeping Class
$60/person
Instructor: Randy Oliver
Topics: Advanced beekeeping methods, current beekeeping research, methods to keep colonies healthy, live hive demonstration.
Instructor bio:
Randy Oliver is a commercial beekeeper in the Grass Valley area, and a contributor to American Bee Journal. In his own words: “my writing is a digestion of the scientific literature, relating it to my day-to-day hands-on experience and observations in my 40+ yards of bees". Randy treats his hives with natural compounds, managing Varroa mite infestations with methodology developed in his decades of work.
$60/person
Instructor: Randy Oliver
Topics: Advanced beekeeping methods, current beekeeping research, methods to keep colonies healthy, live hive demonstration.
Instructor bio:
Randy Oliver is a commercial beekeeper in the Grass Valley area, and a contributor to American Bee Journal. In his own words: “my writing is a digestion of the scientific literature, relating it to my day-to-day hands-on experience and observations in my 40+ yards of bees". Randy treats his hives with natural compounds, managing Varroa mite infestations with methodology developed in his decades of work.
Registration for individual classes offered as part of the Beginner Beekeeping Series
Sun, January 19th, 9 am - 1 pm
$45/person
Overview of Beginner Beekeeping Series and Getting Ready for Bees
-Overview of Beginner Beekeeping Series and what to expect.
-Time commitment and what to expect as a new beekeeper.
-Overview of equipment including installation and placement.
-Installing Packages/Nucs/Swarms
-Spring feeding
-Basics of Biology of Individuals and Biology of the Colony
-Registering hives and being a good bee neighbor
Participants registered in individual classes will have option to buy book provided to participants enrolled in the series for $7 at all classes in the series.
$45/person
Overview of Beginner Beekeeping Series and Getting Ready for Bees
-Overview of Beginner Beekeeping Series and what to expect.
-Time commitment and what to expect as a new beekeeper.
-Overview of equipment including installation and placement.
-Installing Packages/Nucs/Swarms
-Spring feeding
-Basics of Biology of Individuals and Biology of the Colony
-Registering hives and being a good bee neighbor
Participants registered in individual classes will have option to buy book provided to participants enrolled in the series for $7 at all classes in the series.
Sun, March 29th , 9 am - 1 pm
$45/person
Managing the Colony
Remember to bring own beekeeping gear if you have it. SABA has a limited amount of veils to share. Wear proper beekeeping attire and closed-toe shoes.
-Beekeeping in spring and changes to hive population
-Swarm prevention and how to split colonies
-Using the smoker
-Live hive inspection demonstration with hands-on instructions
-Introduction to honey bee integrated pest management (IPM)
Participants registered in individual classes will have option to buy book provided to participants enrolled in the series for $7 at all classes in the series.
$45/person
Managing the Colony
Remember to bring own beekeeping gear if you have it. SABA has a limited amount of veils to share. Wear proper beekeeping attire and closed-toe shoes.
-Beekeeping in spring and changes to hive population
-Swarm prevention and how to split colonies
-Using the smoker
-Live hive inspection demonstration with hands-on instructions
-Introduction to honey bee integrated pest management (IPM)
Participants registered in individual classes will have option to buy book provided to participants enrolled in the series for $7 at all classes in the series.
Sat, June 20th, 9 am - 1 pm
$45/person
Troubleshooting & Summer Beekeeping
Remember to bring own beekeeping gear if you have it. SABA has a limited amount of veils to share. Wear proper beekeeping attire and closed-toe shoes.
-Summer beekeeping tasks and troubleshooting
-Combining, splitting and requeening
-Disorders, pests and pathogens
-Integrated Pest Management (IPM), varroa mite monitoring
-Live hive inspection demonstration
-How to know when to take honey and how much
Participants registered in individual classes will have option to buy book provided to participants enrolled in the series for $7 at all classes in the series.
$45/person
Troubleshooting & Summer Beekeeping
Remember to bring own beekeeping gear if you have it. SABA has a limited amount of veils to share. Wear proper beekeeping attire and closed-toe shoes.
-Summer beekeeping tasks and troubleshooting
-Combining, splitting and requeening
-Disorders, pests and pathogens
-Integrated Pest Management (IPM), varroa mite monitoring
-Live hive inspection demonstration
-How to know when to take honey and how much
Participants registered in individual classes will have option to buy book provided to participants enrolled in the series for $7 at all classes in the series.
Sat, Aug 22nd, 9 am - 1 pm
$45/person
Honey, Products of the Hive, Preparing for Winter
-Preparing hives for winter
-Honey Extraction Techniques
-Review of Bee Biology and Hive Biology (changes with seasons)
-Combining and requeening review
-Other products of the hive including wax, pollen and propolis
-Review of Beginner Beekeeping Series lessons and Q and A with instructors.
Participants registered in individual classes will have option to buy book provided to participants enrolled in the series for $7 at all classes in the series.
$45/person
Honey, Products of the Hive, Preparing for Winter
-Preparing hives for winter
-Honey Extraction Techniques
-Review of Bee Biology and Hive Biology (changes with seasons)
-Combining and requeening review
-Other products of the hive including wax, pollen and propolis
-Review of Beginner Beekeeping Series lessons and Q and A with instructors.
Participants registered in individual classes will have option to buy book provided to participants enrolled in the series for $7 at all classes in the series.
