Education: Short Courses & Seminars

    SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR NEW JERSEY STUDENTS
Any New Jersey, full-time student interested in becoming involved in beekeeping can apply for a scholarship to one of the Essex, Jersey Cape, Mid-State, RVBA, SJBA or Sussex courses offered below. The youth must be a New Jersey resident, a full-time student and between the ages of 12 and 22 as of the start date of the course they are applying for. Applications must be submitted with enough time to review and for us to enroll you in the class you are interested in. Click here for complete guidelines. Click here for an application form. If you have any questions about this program, please email scholarship@njbeekeepers.org.

2024
Branch
Sussex County Beekeepers Association
Contact
Dates
8:30-4:30 Sat January 20
8:30-4:30 Sat January 27
Snow Date 8:30-4:30 Sat February 10
Field Day in April TBA
Location
Lafayette Township Fire Department
Lead Instructors
SCBA Members
Cost
$110; discount for second family member in same household

            Details and Registration

Branch
Central Jersey Beekeepers Association
Contact
Dates
Friday night classes 6:00-8:30pm :
    January 26
    February 2
    February 9
    February 23
    March 1
    March 8

Hands-on hive inspection TBD, weather permitting
Location
Mercer County Extension Office, Ewing, NJ
Lead Instructors
Jeff Burd
Cost
$150, discount for 4-H, FFA, Veterans

            Details and Registration

Branch
Jersey Cape Beekeepers Association
Contact
Dates
8 consecutive Friday evenings starting March 1st through April 19th at 7pm
Location
355 Court House-South Dennis Rd in Cape May Court House
Lead Instructors
Jerry Futrell
Cost
$100
includes textbook. Bees and woodenware are additional monies. Subject to change.

Branch
Essex County Beekeepers Society
Contact
Dates
In-person class days:
     8:30-4:00 Sat February 10
     8:30-4:00 Sat February 17
     Field Day in April TBA, depending on weather.
     Snow Date 8:30-4:00 Sat March 2
Location
Essex County Environmental Center
Lead Instructors
Landi Simone
Cost

Branch
Raritan Valley Beekeepers Association
Contact
Dates
Two Full Class days on Saturday, February 17 and Saturday, March 2, Field Day in April, date TBA.
Location
2/17 and 3/2 Classes will be held at the Somerset County Environmental Education Center. The April Field Day will be half day in the apiary (hands on) date and location to be determined.
Lead Instructors
Adele Barree
Cost
$130, discounts for Veterans and second family member in same household

            Details and Registration

Branch
Mid-State NJ Beekeepers Association
Contact
Dates
This will be a weekly evening course (Thursday Evenings) starting on 02/22/2024 from 7pm to 9pm continuing till 03/07/2024 with an apiary visit to be determined (weather dependent in March or April 2024)
Location
Rutgers Ecocomplex, 1200 Florence Columbus Rd, Fieldsboro, NJ
Lead Instructors
Lou Naylor, Harry Mayer, Dana Master, Padraig Fidgeon
Cost
$125 for up to 2 people in a household or bee yard - discounts for Veterans

            Details and Registration

Branch
South Jersey Beekeepers Association
Contact
Dates
6 classes:
    Saturday, March 2 9:00 - 11:00AM
    Saturday, March 9 9:00 - 11:00AM
    Saturday, March 16 9:00 - 11:00AM
    Saturday, March 23 9:00 - 11:00AM
    Saturday, March 30 9:00 - 11:00AM
    Saturday, April 6 9:00 - 11:00AM

Field day for all students to be scheduled in late April or early May
Location
Live online using Zoom
Lead Instructors
Rob Dietrich
Cost
$125, includes text "The Beekeeper's Handbook" 5th Edition

Branch
Morris Somerset Beekeepers Association
Contact
Dates
8:30-4:30 Sat March 2
8:30-4:30 Sat March 9
Field Day TBD
Location
St. Marks Episcopal Church Parish Hall
Lead Instructors
Jeff Burd, Grant Stiles
Cost
$165, discount for 4-H, FFA, Veterans, Healthcare professionals and 2nd household member

            Details and Registration

Branch
Northwest New Jersey Beekeepers Association
Contact
Dates
     8:30-4:00 Sat September 7
     8:30-4:00 Sat September 14
     Field Day TBA, depending on weather.
Location
Hunterdon County Complex, Route 12 (Building #1), Flemington, NJ
Lead Instructors
Jean Miller
Cost
$130

            Details and Registration


Branch
Essex County Beekeepers Society
Contact
Dates
Recorded 2021 Class
Location
On-Demand - Take It Anytime
Lead Instructors
Landi Simone
Cost


Marketing Materials

The New Jersey Beekeepers Association has five brochures which are distributed to the branches for use in public outreach activities: Copies of these brochures can be obtained from your branch president. If you would like to purchase brochures, they are available in packets of 50 per brochure at a cost of $25 per packet, plus postage. Contact treasurer@njbeekeepers.org if you are interested in purchasing brochures.


Topics of Interest

Swarms? Honey bees reproduce by "casting swarms" in the spring. Hives that are healthy and strong will produce new queens in the early spring. When the new queen emerges, the old queen leaves with about half of the hive population. The swarm will usually settle in a bush or tree and form a large solid cluster while scout bees search for a new home. At this time, with full honey stomachs and no brood or hive to defend, these swarming bees are not typically agressive. In a few hours or a day or two they will fly off to a new home. Click here for pictures of honey bee swarms. Have a swarm within reach on your property? Send the location of the swarm, address, how long it has been there and contact information to swarms@njbeekeepers.org, or click here for a list of beekeepers in the New Jersey that you can contact directly for swarm removal. Want more information on swarming activity in New Jersey or want to report a swarm that you have collected? Click here.

A swarm in May - is worth a load of hay.

A swarm in June - is worth a silver spoon.

A swarm in July - isn't worth a fly.

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