Annual Beginning Beekeeping Course Information

The next DC Beginning Beekeeping Course will begin in January 2025.

To receive notifications, please join our club, sign up for our mailing list, or participate in our Facebook or Google groups. Members get priority access to all offerings.

The purpose of the UDC/DC Beekeepers Alliance Beginning Beekeeping Course is to provide resources, knowledge, and a network needed to begin to keep bees successfully and responsibly in the District of Columbia.

Prerequisite class: “Is Beekeeping Right for Me?”

REGISTER NOW FOR THE PREREQUISITE SESSION: Free 90 minute zoom class, "Is Beekeeping Right for Me?" offered October 27, October 30, and November 18, 2024.

Anyone interested in taking the 2025 Beginning Beekeeping Course must complete a free, 90-minute online class titled "Is Beekeeping Right for Me?" in order to assure that student expectations match the course and that the class is offered to committed and informed community members. This class is open to all at no charge, but registration will be required (and it will be right here on this page).

After attending the prerequisite class, you will receive a link to register for the Beginner Beekeeping Course along with information about dates and times, cost, location, course materials, and more.  

Beginning Beekeeping Course:

This course is offered by the DC Beekeepers Alliance in partnership with the University of the District of Columbia's CAUSES (College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences). This course is an annual for-fee, non-credit bearing course comprised of: 

·       8 required 2-hour classes (16 hours total); and

·       2 optional field experiences.

The class is taught by active, volunteer beekeepers, including local Master Beekeepers and experienced DC Beekeepers. Additional DC beekeepers assist at each session.

Registration

Only individuals that complete the prerequisite class will be eligible to register for the course. Course registration will open the week before Thanksgiving, and seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Members of the DC Beekeepers Alliance receive priority access to the course: remaining seats will be offered around December 1 to those who sign up for notification (form below). Student seats are not reserved until registration and payment are complete. 

Schedule

The course will begin in January and continue for 8 weekly sessions to March. Each course session will take place from 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm.  The 2 optional field experiences will take place in April and May. 

All classes will be live- steam over Zoom, however we strongly encourage in person attendance for all classes. 

Those who complete all class sessions receive a Certificate of Completion, introduction to a mentor, and connections to suppliers of equipment and bees.

Other Resources 

Demand for urban beekeeping classes wildly outstrips supply: there are more than 700 households on the notification list and we urge you to explore all options available for beekeeping education. 

We are not the only local source for quality beekeeper education! Other area beekeeping associations that also offer courses include:

·       The Northern Virginia Beekeepers

·       The Virginia Beekeeping Teaching Consortium

·       The Bowie-Upper Marlboro (Prince George's County) Beekeepers

·       The Montgomery County Beekeepers 

There are more options via local beekeeping businesses and universities: to learn more, we suggest that you join our Facebook or Google Group. Both of these are private and your request to join must be approved.