WESTON, CT – As honeybees huddle in their hives to stay warm this winter, new and aspiring beekeepers from across southern Connecticut and New York will be swarming to Bee School, an engaging introduction to the art and science of beekeeping.
On four consecutive Monday evenings—January 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2025—participants will meet from 7–9 PM at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 285 Lyons Plain Road, Weston, CT, to learn the fundamentals of beekeeping. Under expert guidance (Andy Hatt, David Blocher and Chris Rountos), attendees will explore topics such as selecting equipment, mastering essential techniques, and managing common pests and diseases.
“What better way to anticipate spring than by planning for a colony of bees in your garden to produce honey?” says Andy Hatt, Master Beekeeper, Bee School instructor and incoming President of the Back Yard Beekeepers Association (BYBA), which hosts the program.
Tuition for Bee School is $60, which includes a one-year membership in the Back Yard Beekeepers Association (BYBA). Current BYBA members can attend for $30. Membership offers a wealth of benefits, including pairing with an experienced mentor, participating in hands-on workshops with live colonies at the club’s bee yard, and learning from renowned regional and national guest speakers. Members also gain access to the Wannabee program for children and monthly virtual meetups tailored to beekeepers of all skill levels. Over the years, Bee School has even become a unique and thoughtful holiday gift for aspiring beekeepers.
Bee School is the gateway to a thriving community of beekeeping enthusiasts. Hatt emphasizes that hobby beekeepers who lack organizational support often struggle, making the Back Yard Beekeepers Association’s network invaluable. “Participants quickly see that they’ve joined a welcoming group of like-minded individuals,” Hatt says. “Our members are passionate about the outdoors, the environment, pollination, gardening, honey production, and teaching these practices to their children. Through Bee School, attendees gain knowledge and skills that can last a lifetime.”
Visit the website to learn more about Bee School and to register. https://backyardbeekeepers.com
The Back Yard Beekeepers Association (BYBA) is one of the Nation’s largest regional clubs for beekeeping hobbyists with over 400 members. Some of their members are just getting started as beekeepers, and some have enjoyed this hobby for years. All share an interest in the wonderful and remarkable world of the honey bee. The mission of BYBA is to provide their membership with a forum for sharing knowledge and mutual interests in beekeeping, and to educate and promote the benefits of beekeeping to the public. For more information, please visit backyardbeekeepers.com
Contact Paula Wolf at paulawolf@email.com for more information.