The Rhode Island Beekeepers Association is once again offering in-person Beginner Beekeeping Courses!  The course is five weeks long and will start in late January 2023.

The course will cover everything the beginning beekeeper needs to know and a variety of beekeeping equipment will be displayed and demonstrated. Subjects will include: getting started, the honeybee life cycle, choosing an apiary site, buying bees and equipment, assembly of the hive, installing package bees, catching swarms, nectar sources, bee diseases and pests, hive inspections and wintering.

To enroll, choose from one of four options (each course offers the same training):

Option 1: Friday mornings from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at Rhode Island College with Instructor Betty Mencucci : Jan. 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24 (March 3 snow date)

Option 2: Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at Rhode Island College with Instructor Betty Mencucci: Jan. 28, Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25 (March 4 snow date)

Option 3: Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the University of Rhode Island with Instructor Stephen Burke: Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23, March 2 (March 9 snow date)

Option 4: Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at the University of Rhode Island with Instructor Stephen Burke: Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4 (March 11 snow date)

The cost for the five-week course is $75 per person. This includes all course materials, a textbook and membership dues in the Rhode Island Beekeepers Association through Dec. 31, 2023.  As room space is available, additional family members at the same address may attend and share course materials for $10 each. We reserve the right to limit family members.

Have Questions? Please contact Betty Mencucci via bmencucci@verizon.net or 401-568-8449.

Advance registration is required.

The last day to register is Jan. 21, 2023, or be charged a $10 late fee

To enroll, go to www.ribeekeeper.org and click on the link for: “2023 Bee School Information and Registration.”

You can also register by sending check or money order payable to RIBA and mail to:

RI Beekeepers Association

PO Box 61

East Greenwich, RI 02818