Beekeeping Courses

[LazyBkpr]

In searching tonight for beekeeping courses, real classes, either online or at a local college, I realized what we did not yet have here yet..
   A list of universities or other institutions offering beekeeping courses.

   I have been around bees for quite some time, but during that time I really didn't LEARN much, except the physical motions needed to perform the duties. I did not ask WHY, I just did, for the small payment I received for a strong back and weak mind.  Having my own bees has made me realize how much I lack in knowledge, so I have been thinking of taking a few courses with perhaps, the eventual goal of taking the master beekeepers exam.
   
   I looked up the one from Cornell / Dyce Lab, and it says CLOSED under their schedule...   Nothing posted since 2012.

   So if you know of a good program Online or otherwise please post it.   I will do some searching and see what I can come up with.
   

[Jen]

Way To Go Lazy! Admire your ambition!

[G3farms]

TN offers a beginners course through the University of Tennessee. It is just a very basic beginners course and that is all that is offered. We have several clubs that offer better courses.

The masters course from NC is a top notch one for sure.

[tecumseh]

you should look into places that offer on line distance educational courses.  most of these all you need is a computer and an acceptable broadband signal.  my wife does several of these not totally unrelated to bees but not totally unrelated either and I thing 'the boss' does at least one course on bees.  I am not certain how you even check to see??  but the institution here is Texas A&M University.  I would think UC Davis would also have some course and The University of Minnesota would also be a excellent place to look. 

[Barbarian]

For info  ----- this is what is available in the UK.

http://www.bbka.org.uk/learn/distance_learning/correspondence_courses

[LazyBkpr]

   Thanks!!!!!
   I sent a few Emails last night. One of them to UofM to Mrs Spivak herself.. we shall see who replies, and what the replies are.

   I will check on that Barbarian, ty for posting it!

[iddee]

We don't have a listing of all the courses. There's likely thousands. We do, however, have the events listing category. Please post the info on the next one coming up for any you find.

[LazyBkpr]

Well, there is one answer;

   Scott,
We don't have an on-line beekeeping course. But we do have our book, and we have just posted a series of how-to videos on our web site that you can watch, for free:
www.beelab.umn.edu

Thanks for your nice words
Marla Spivak

   Apparently my Pick up line failed... again....     but the link takes you to the site, where you will find a link to "New How to Video Series on Beekeeping."

[Jen]

It's a start! Go! Go! Go!

[Bakersdozen]

Is this what you had in mind? http://beekeeping101.psu.edu/
It costs a little more than Marla Spivak's free material, but you might get a college credit or two from this.

[ablanton]

Haven't tried any of these, yet, but I have thought about it . . .

http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/entomology/apiculture/instruction.html

[LazyBkpr]

Like the looks of Ent 401 Ablanton..
   Oskaloosa Back to Basics beekeepers meeting tonight...  I learned that Nebraska has shut down their master beekeeping program, and that the Iowa honey producers association is working toward STARTING a master beekeepers program.. the planning is in its infancy at this point, so a lot to still go wrong, but I am keeping my fingers crossed..  In the meantime..  I'll see about some of the correspondence courses mentioned.
   Keep your eyes open guys and thanks for input so far!

[tecumseh]

it appears I will have the opportunity to meet up with Marla Spivak in the next week or so.... she will be here (Texas A&M) as a guest speaker < this very part time and poor paying gig I got myself into at the Texas A&M bee lab does have it own set of perks.

I think you are onto something there Lazy in looking for master beekeeping programs.... I seem to recall that Iddee enrolled in one of those and I also seem to recall that the State of Georgia has a master beekeeper program.

[apisbees]

Here is the program that is presented to beekeepers in B.C. that just finished. It is the Bee Masters Course that is offered every 2 years it offers an examination at the end with a certificate. By the time they started offering the program I had learned most of what was being presented thru the course thru workshops, reading, studying and attending bee meetings on my own.  It helped that the Agricultural office was in Vernon with the head of the agriculture branch and bee inspectors and research was preformed thru the office by apiaries specialists and were available to speak and share new findings and information.

[LazyBkpr]

it appears I will have the opportunity to meet up with Marla Spivak in the next week or so.... she will be here (Texas A&M) as a guest speaker < this very part time and poor paying gig I got myself into at the Texas A&M bee lab does have it own set of perks.

I think you are onto something there Lazy in looking for master beekeeping programs.... I seem to recall that Iddee enrolled in one of those and I also seem to recall that the State of Georgia has a master beekeeper program.

   Nice Tec!!  I am envious...
   Strange as it may seem... I have sat at a table and spent an evening chatting with George and Barbra Bush, and I enjoyed the evening very much, as did my wife...    I felt... fortunate. I enjoyed the evening, got invited to go striper fishing...  Always felt fortunate..
   Put me in front of Dolly Parton, Shirley Muldowney, Marla Spivak, Kieth Deleplane, Michael Palmer... and I feel more than fortunate.. I feel privileged.     Seems sort of backwards.. but then.. my wife has always told me Men think wierd.
   I hope you get to talk to her Tec. She seems like a real person.
   

[riverbee]

"I hope you get to talk to her Tec. She seems like a real person."

she is scott, I have had the honor and pleasure of meeting her and been to her office and lab a few times. i was introduced to her through a colleague of hers, a professor who has done some research for her, and fishes our river.  we became good friends.  i have lunch with him from time to time when i am in the cities at the u of m, or visit his lab, and if she's in we swing by her office.

[apisbees]

I was thinking River was not being nice then had to figure out that the first sentence "she is lazy" was actually addressed to LazyBkpr. Not talking about Marla Spivak.

[Perry]

I was thinking River was not being nice then had to figure out that the first sentence "she is lazy" was actually addressed to LazyBkpr. Not talking about Marla Spivak.

River not being nice? Pshha, not possible. 
I went back and added a comma, just part of what we try and do when things sometimes don't quite make sense.

[riverbee]

"I was thinking River was not being nice then had to figure out that the first sentence "she is lazy" was actually addressed to LazyBkpr. Not talking about Marla Spivak."

that's correct apis, i was not speaking of dr. spivak, i was addressing lazybkpr's comment.  i have the utmost respect for dr. spivak and wish i had her brain and knowledge.  and thanks perry for adding a comma. (not necessary grammatically) re-reading what i said might give others pause to think the same so  i went back and changed it to  reflect  scott's name........

we just attended a function in a smaller venue with dr. spivak  as the guest speaker it was excellent, she is a great speaker.

[Bakersdozen]

we just attended a function in a smaller venue with dr. spivak  as the guest speaker it was excellent, she is a great speaker.

Oooh, nice riverbee.  I would like to hear her speak.