FREE ~ IS BEEKEEPING FOR ME?
Unveil the Mysteries of Beekeeping ~ FREE session
Curious about what it takes to become a successful beekeeper? Join us to explore:
- The fascinating world of honey bees
- The benefits of beekeeping
- Essential requirements: equipment, time, cost, space, legal considerations, and physical demands
Whether you are interested in bees, gardening, or starting your own hive ~ All are welcome!
Free Presentation Locations:
Mechanicsburg ~ Agway 977 W. Trindle Rd, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 (717) 766-4726
1/3/2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Dickinson College Kaufman Hall 400 W. North St. Carlisle, PA 17013
2/4/26 6:00pm - 7:30pm
New Cumberland College of Knowledge 324 Bridge St. New Cumberland, PA 17070
3/25/26 7:00pm - 9:00pm
BEEKEEPING WORKSHOPS
WHY, WHEN, HOW TO PERFORM COLONY INSPECTIONS
This 3-hour workshop reviews the reasons we inspect our honey bees, how to perform those inspections, issues you may see, and actions to take when issues found.
Structure: In Apiary & Classroom
Seating is limited.
ALL ABOUT SWARMS & COLONY SPLIT TECHNIQUES
This 3-hour workshop reviews cause for swarms, management techniques to reduce swarming behavior, how to catch swarms, and different techniques used to split honeybee colonies. Specific situations may determine one technique over another as best practice.
Structure: In Apiary & Classroom
Seating is limited.
MOST COMMON PESTS & HOW TO TREAT
This 3-hour workshop reviews the most common pests (varroa mites, small hive beetles, & wax moths) how to reduce the potential for pests, and how to treat for pests if seen. Included in the workshop is in apiary varroa mite monitoring.
Structure: In Apiary & Classroom
Seating is limited.
HONEY REMOVAL & HONEY EXTRACTION
This 3-hour workshop reviews honey: what makes honey different, why one type crystalizes faster than others, determining when it is safe to remove honey frames from the hive, different techniques in removing honey frames, and honey extraction techniques.
Structure: In Apiary & Classroom
Seating is limited.
COLONY DISEASES ~ AILMENTS ~ AFFLICTIONS
This 3-hour workshop reviews several common issues affecting our honey bees including: EFB, AFB, Varroa mites and viruses they carry, Chalk Brood, & Sac Brood. Focus will be taken looking at our brood, the brood pattern, and the adult bees to identify their health or concerns requiring further study.
Structure: In Apiary & Classroom
Seating is limited.
This 3-hour workshop reviews how to prepare your honey bee colonies for the winter season. Included are: techniques to condense your colony, identifying healthy quantities of resources, determining actions needed before winter season hits, and various winterizing equipment used.
Structure: In Apiary & Classroom
Seating is limited.
SOLITARY BEE PROGRAMS
Mason Bees
Leafcutter Bees
Leafcutter Bees
Mason Bees are a solitary bee that forage a 300 foot radius from their nest site. Bee houses with tubes tunneling 6 inches, with a cavity diameter of about 8mm are preferred. Mason Bees are an important early pollinator, emerging once temperatures consistently reach 55 degree and they contribute to pollinating efforts during the months of April - May in the NE Region.
SOLITARY BEE PROGRAM
Adult Program: During this 1.5 hour class, Master Beekeeper Tiffany Ayres will review some differences of our social bees; such as the Honey Bee and our solitary bees; such as our Mason & Leaf Cutter Bees. The session will review the needs for pollinators within our environment. Specific instructions will be given on how to raise the two solitary bees to ensure they are healthy and prosper for coming years in your garden. With this knowledge and a little bit of effort, you and your family can enjoy watching these extremely docile bees throughout their bee season as they pollinate your garden. Participants will receive a bee house and instruction on how to make the house inviting for our pollinator friends.1 Bee House Included with each registration.
Family Program: During this 1.5 hour class, the adult programming is delivered in a youth friendly manner. With the knowledge gained from the session families can enjoy watching these extremely docile bees throughout their bee season as they pollinate your garden. Children enjoy watching the bees utilize the house they created for them. All Families (1 adult & 1 child) will receive a bee house and the instructions of how to make the house inviting for our pollinator friends.1 Bee House Included with each family registration.
Leafcutter Bees
Leafcutter Bees
Leafcutter Bees
Leafcutter Bees emerge once temperatures consistently reach 72 degrees and they contribute to pollinating efforts during the months of June - August in the NE Region. Leafcutter Bees are also solitary bees that forage a 300 foot radius from their nest site. Bee houses with tubes 6 inches, with a cavity diameter of about 6mm are preferred.
SOLITARY BEE PROGRAM
Explore the fascinating difference between social bees (honey bees and bumble bees) verses solitary bees (Mason Bees and Leafcutter Bees). Learn how to raise your own pollinators in your backyard and, most importantly, how to maintain their health to ensure their bee houses remain a safe place for them to use year after year. Bee houses included in registration cost.
ADULT SOLITARY BEE PROGRAMS:
3/18/26 6:00pm-7:30pm
- Camp Hill Fredericksen Library - Registration coming
3/31/26 6:00pm-7:30pm
7/7/26 6:00pm-7:30pm
- West Shore Township - Registration coming
7/9/26 6:00pm-7:30pm
FAMILY SOLITARY BEE PROGRAMS:
3/18/26 6:00pm-7:30pm
- Camp Hill Fredericksen Library - Registration coming
3/31/26 6:00pm-7:30pm
7/21/26 6:00pm-7:30pm
- West Shore Township - Registration coming
7/23/26 6:00pm-7:30pm