SOBA Beginning Beekeeper Class April 15, 2022 –  8:00am to 4:00pm PST – $50

Southern Oregon Beekeepers Association Spring Bee School

April 15, 2023 Beginning Beekeeping Basics and Beyond – Presentations and hands-on demonstrations

Please bring lunch, snacks, and water. The OSU Extension Building water fountain will not be working. Please bring protective bee gear and wear light colors. Please DO NOT wear black, dark colors, or sunglasses.  A covering for your head and face is required and veiled hats will be available for purchase. Weather and time permitting we will be inspecting live hives.

Keynote Speaker: DR. DEWEY M. CARON 

Emeritus Professor of Entomology & Wildlife Ecology, Univ of Delaware, & Affiliate Professor, Dept Horticulture, Oregon State University.  I enjoyed professional appointments at Cornell (1968-70), Univ of Maryland (1970-81) and U Delaware 1981-2009, serving as entomology chair at the last 2.  I spent a sabbatical year at the USDA Tucson lab 1977-78 and had 2 Fulbright awards for projects in Panama and Bolivia with Africanized bees.  I retired from Univ of Delaware in 2009 and moved to Portland, OR to be closer to grandkids.  

In retirement I remain active in bee education, writing for newsletters, have a monthly column in American Bee Journal on Beekeeping Basics, giving Bee Short Courses, assisting in several Master beekeeper programs and giving presentations to local, state and regional bee clubs. I am author of Honey Bee Biology & Beekeeping, and have a new bee book (my 10th) The Complete Bee Handbook published by Rockridge Press in 2020.  I am principal author of HBHC Tools for Varroa Management and Best Management Practices and Identifying and Mitigating Foulbrood in Honey Bee Colonies; Information for Beekeepers and Veterinarians from the Honey bee Health Coalition. I spent this past winter on revisions to the Bee MD web-based program.

Topics with Dr. Dewey M. Caron: 

Dr. Caron: So you want/have bees? Basics of Beekeeping – what those with bees want to learn about and those wanting bees should hear

Dr. Caron: EQUIPMENT 101: In-depth explanation of equipment involved with beekeeping and terminology

Dr. Caron: HOW TO INSTALL A NUC A presentation indoors which includes hands-on demonstration of club hives in the afternoon. 

SMOKER CONTEST: Smoker Lighting Competition: Judge: Dr. Dewey M. Caron

Prizes will be given for the fastest lit that stays lit for over 10 minutes, longest lasting, and best smelling.Bring your own smoker fuel and smoker. Some ideas for fuel are:

burlap – make sure that it is untreated for insects and mice,natural baler twine, pine needles, fine wood chips, small twigs, dry lavender and rosemary, dry rotten wood, dry tree leaves, untreated straw, uncolored paper, rolled, corrugated cardboard, rolled and untreated, .sumac bob, wood pellets, corn cobs, Dadant Smoker Fuel, beeswax comb

Things NOT to use include:

gasoline or other combustible oil, anything treated or painted or colored etc.

Cost:  $50 Registration deadline is April 10th and is limited to the first 100 people. The class fee cannot be refunded less than 7 days prior to bee school.

Additional Presentation Topics

SWARMS: How to catch swarms and learn how to make swarm traps that work

FEEDING: How and when to feed your bees with honey harvest in mind

CLASSROOM: Learn Bee Math and Bee Biology (for bee-ginners)

Cost:  $50 Registration deadline is April 10th and is limited to the first 100 people. The class fee cannot be refunded less than 7 days prior to bee school.

Scholarships for Next Generation Beekeepers 

If you are 15-18 years old, or under 15 and accompany an adult attending the class, and

Are a member of SOBA, and

Are one of the first 5 people to ask

You can attend Bee School for FREE!  Contact Cheryl  to secure your place (541 659 6651).

Register by mail (before April 7)

Download  SOBA Bee School Registration Form

Make check payable to — SOBA

Mail to:

SOBA c/o Cheryl Housden

PO Box 407

Wilderville, OR 97543-0407

Register Now For This Informative And Fun Filled Class!

Fill out the information below and click register to submit an online application, or use the link below to print the form and mail it to SOBA with the address provided in the form.

Click here for the mail in form for Spring Bee school.