COURSE OVERVIEW

Introduction to Beekeeping is self-paced and entirely digital.

This eight-module course introduces new or prospective beekeepers to the concepts and practical information needed to manage or start their first colony, foster hive health, and know what to expect in every season.

This course, taught by highly experienced beekeepers including Certified and Master beekeepers, covers honey bee biology, hive tools, and practical methods for the foundation of a successful first beekeeping experience.



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  • BASIC GEAR: Tools for basic beekeeping

  • HIVE COMPONENTS: History of hive designs and modern beehives

  • REPRODUCTION & SWARMS: How and why bees reproduce by swarming, and how to prevent and catch swarms

  • BEEKEEPING MANAGEMENT: Be prepared for what hives need in each season

  • PESTS & DISEASES: Learn the common and rare threats honey bees face

  • VARROA MONITORING & TREATMENT: Get familiar with how to keep your hives healthy against the #1 threat to honey bees today

  • INSTALLING PACKAGES & NUCS: Learn how to install a package or nuc of bees

  • BEE SMOKER: Understand how to choose and use a bee smoker

WHAT YOU GET

6 experienced, teaching beekeepers have created 8 self-paced modules with information that a new beekeeper needs to get started.

  • EXPERTISE

    Benefit from highly skilled beekeepers to avoid common mistakes with your first hives.

  • SKILLS

    Experience practical techniques and hive management methods.

WHO'S CCBA?

CCBA started in 1976 by beekeepers dedicated to supporting each other and fostering beekeeping in their community. CCBA helps nurture and grow beekeeping in our area, and promotes the critical contributions of bees and beekeepers.

Meet Your Instructors


Kory Goldsmith

Kory has been keeping bees on and off since the mid-1980s. She loves how they keep her connected to the seasons, and they never cease to both amaze and confound her. She remained a hobbyist until 2019 when she and her husband started a small sideline business raising and selling nucleus colonies. Their goal is to produce healthy colonies with gentle bees headed up by locally bred queens.

David Jones

David is a longstanding Board member and valued mentor at CCBA. He is a Journeyman level beekeeper who has kept bees since 2011. He is an avid gardener and woodworker and makes all of his woodenware except for frames. He likes to experiment with new designs for equipment.

Jody Moore

Jody Moore has been keeping bees for over 20 years. He is a NCSBA Certified Master Beekeeper and a Certified NC Honey Producer. He is past President of the Chatham County Beekeepers Association and Co-Editor of the North Carolina Bee Buzz Magazine through the NCSBA. He is the owner and operator of Rocky River Bees out of Pittsboro, NC.

Julia Kopacz

Julia is a Chatham County native who has been keeping bees since 2014. An active Board member, Julia is also a NC Certified Beekeeper. She currently manages an apiary of 14 hives, placed in three different locations, and has just completed building a professional bottling kitchen for honey.

Valarie Pallatto

Valarie grew up in rural Pennsylvania. She has lived in the beautiful state of North Carolina for nearly 30 years. After her service in the military, she attended and graduated from the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a veterinarian and board certified veterinary clinical pathologist. Her passion and appreciation for honeybees motivated her to attend the 2019 CCBA 8-week Introduction to Beekeeping Course. Her desire to constantly learn and grow as a beekeeper has continued to soar; and she loves teaching and helping new beekeepers. She also loves cycling, reading, soapmaking, and spending time with her family.



Phil Uptmor

Phil has been keeping honeybees since taking the beekeeping class in 2015 and currently manages around 25 colonies in four different apiaries. Phil is a past president of Chatham County Beekeepers and is a Journeyman beekeeper with the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association's master beekeeper program.

Course Syllabus

  • 1

    WELCOME!

    • Welcome to Introduction to Beekeeping

    • Course Syllabus

    • How to Navigate the Course

    • Incoming Student Survey
  • 2

    Tools of the Trade

    • What to Expect

    • Introduction

    • Lesson 1: Smokers

    • Test Your Knowledge about Smokers!

    • Lesson 2: Hive Tools

    • Test Your Knowledge about Hive Tools!

    • Lesson 3: Bee Brush & Grip

    • Lesson 4: Queen Care

    • Lesson 5: Protective Gear

    • Test Your Knowledge about Protective Gear!

    • Lesson 6: Extra Equipment

    • Test Your Knowledge about Extra Equipment!

    • Conclusion

    • Tools of the Trade-Transcript

    • Resources and Downloads
  • 3

    Honey Bee Biology

    • What to expect

    • Introduction to Honey Bee Biology

    • Overview of Apis mellifera

    • Quiz-Overview of Apis mellifera

    • Colony Members

    • Honey Bee Life Cycle

    • Quiz-Honey Bee Life Cycle

    • Roles of the Colony Members

    • Quiz-Roles of the Colony Members

    • Anatomy of the Honey Bee

    • Quiz-Anatomy of the Honey Bee

    • Honey Bee Communication

    • Quiz-Honey Bee Communication

    • Conclusion

    • PPT slides with formatting issues
  • 4

    Bee Smoker Basics

    • What to Expect

    • Lesson 1: Why Use Smoke?

    • Test Your Knowledge about Using Smoke!

    • Lesson 2: Smoker Parts

    • Test Your Knowledge about the Parts of the Smoker

    • Lesson 3: Choosing a Fuel

    • Test Your Knowledge about Choosing a Fuel!

    • Lesson 4: Steps to Light a Smoker

    • Smoker Lighting Demonstration

    • Test Your Knowledge about Lighting a Smoker!

    • Lesson 5: Cleaning a Smoker

    • Test Your Knowledge about Cleaning a Smoker!

    • Resources and Downloads

    • Bee Smoker Basics-Transcript
  • 5

    Hive Components

    • What to Expect

    • Introduction

    • Lesson 1: History of Hives

    • Test Your Knowledge of History of Hives!

    • Lesson 2: Hive Components

    • Test Your Knowledge of Hive Components!

    • Lesson 3: Assembly and Finishing

    • Test Your Knowledge about Assembling and Finishing!

    • Lesson 4: Frames and Foundation

    • Test Your Knowledge about Frames and Foundation!

    • Lesson 5: Optional Equipment

    • Test Your Knowledge of Optional Equipment!

    • Lesson 6: Feeders

    • Test Your Knowledge of Feeders!

    • Resources and Downloads

    • Hives-Transcript
  • 6

    Installing Packages and Nucleus Hives

    • What to Expect

    • Lesson 1: Package Basics and Preparation

    • Test Your Knowledge of Package Basics!

    • Lesson 2: Opening the Package

    • Test Your Knowledge of Opening the Package!

    • Lesson 3: Installing a Package

    • Test Your Knowledge of Installing a Package!

    • Lesson 4: Nucleus Hives

    • Test Your Knowledge of Nucleus Hives!

    • Resources and Downloads

    • Installing Packages and Nucs-Transcript
  • 7

    Reproduction and Swarms

    • What to Expect

    • Introduction

    • Lesson 1: Reproduction Basics

    • Test Your Knowledge on Reproduction Basics!

    • Lesson 2: The Swarming Process

    • Test Your Knowledge on Swarming!

    • Lesson 3: Swarm Capture

    • Test Your Knowledge on Capturing a Swarm!

    • Lesson 4: Swarm Prevention

    • Test Your Knowledge on Swarm Prevention!

    • Resources and Downloads

    • Reproduction and Swarms-Transcript
  • 8

    Beekeeping and Seasonal Management

    • What to Expect

    • Introduction

    • Lesson 1: Queen Management

    • Test Your Knowledge of Queen Management!

    • Lesson 2: Beekeeper Rules

    • Test Your Knowledge of Beekeeper Rules!

    • Lesson 3: Record Keeping

    • Test Your Knowledge of Record Keeping!

    • Lesson 4a: Seasonal Management: Spring

    • Test Your Knowledge of Spring Hive Management!

    • Lesson 4b: Seasonal Management: Summer

    • Test Your Knowledge of Summer Hive Management!

    • Lesson 4c: Seasonal Management: Fall

    • Test Your Knowledge of Fall Hive Management!

    • Lesson 4d: Seasonal Management: Winter

    • Test Your Knowledge of Winter Hive Management!

    • Lesson 5: Planting for Honey Bees

    • Test Your Knowledge of Planting for Honey Bees!

    • Resources and Downloads

    • Beekeeping and Seasonal Management-Transcript
  • 9

    Colony Health: Parasites, Pathogens, Pests, and IPM

    • What to expect

    • Introduction

    • Our Relationship with Honey Bees

    • Disease Agents: Parasites

    • Quiz-Disease Agents: Parasites

    • Disease Agents: Pathogens

    • Quiz-Disease Agents: Pathogens

    • Viruses

    • Pests

    • Varroa and Integrated Pest Management

    • Integrated Pest Management

    • Quiz-Varroa and Integrated Pest Management

    • Treatment Thresholds

    • Quiz-Treatment Thresholds

    • Treatment Options

    • Quiz-Treatment Options

    • Conclusion
  • 10

    Wrap Up!

    • Helpful Beekeepers' Takeaways

FAQs

  • What do I get for the cost of the course?

    You will receive:

    1. Ongoing access to the course until the next January 1st
    2. A certificate of completion
    3. Downloadable resources for use offline.

  • What exactly is this course?

    The Introduction to Beekeeping includes an online course consisting of 8 lessons, an ongoing discussion group, and downloadable supporting materials.

  • How long does this course last?

    The Introduction to Beekeeping course is self-paced. You can work through the modules any way it works for you. The discussion board, which is real-time, will be a dynamic part of the experience. Your access to the course will expire on the coming January 1st.

  • Do I get some kind of credit for the course?

    Those who complete the course will be issued a certificate of completion. This certificate is not associated with any larger organization or state agency. However, the training you will receive should help you prepare for the NCSBA master beekeeping Certified level test.

  • How can I contact you?

    We are always happy to hear from you! Simply contact us through our contact form .