Bee Prepared - Beekeeping Course - March/April 2026

PRO-TIP: Become a member before registering. Pay the same price, and get all the benefits of membership. Registration opens 2/11/26.

Have you fallen in love with the honey bees in your garden or during a visit to Beekeeping 101? Are you ready to take the next step to become a full-fledged beekeeper? Do you want to make 2026 your most memorable year ever? We have exactly the thing for you! 

This course provides the instruction and hands-on experience to turn a beginner into a confident backyard beekeeper. Topics include hive management, bee biology, recognizing and treating common diseases and predators, legal requirements of keeping bees in Long Beach, and more.

After completing the course successfully, participants may join the Bee Team for additional practice inspecting hives. 

Our class includes various components. Please read the dates carefully and mark all dates in your calendar. The class includes one in-person "Intro to Beekeeping held in a classroom setting, one OPTIONAL field trip to a beekeeping supply shop, one in-person "Introduction to the Apiary," two Zoom lectures, and one mentorship session in the bee yard. 

• The in-person classroom "Introduction to Beekeeping" will take place MONDAY, MARCH 30, from 6-8PM at EDCO Recycling Center.
• An **optional field trip** to a beekeeping supplier will take place SATURDAY, APRIL 4, from 10-12. Carpooling options will be available.
• The first online Zoom lecture on Bee Anatomy will take place MONDAY, APRIL 6, 7-9PM.
• The In-person "Introduction to the Apiary" will take place SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 9-11AM.
• The second online Zoom lecture on Diseases, Pests, and IPM will take place MONDAY, APRIL 13, 7-9PM.
• Each student will sign up via email for ONE mentorship session. Dates available are Saturday, April 18, 9-11:30 AM; Sunday, April 19, 9-11:30 AM; Saturday, May 2, 9-11:30 AM. Spots are limited per date. You will receive an email upon registration to sign up for the mentor session. 
• NOTE: ALL STUDENTS will need their own beekeeping suit, gloves, hive tool, and smoker for this course. If you are unable to purchase protective gear for the April 11 meeting, please notify us ASAP.