Classes
We teach beekeeping classes in February / March and June / July each year.
Winter is the perfect time to prepare for the coming beekeeping season. For 2023, our Winter classes are in 2, 2-hour sessions via Zoom and give a beginning beekeeper all the information needed to start up in the Spring.
Classes in June and July are hands on at our apiary for beginning beekeepers. If you have a hive now or just want some more experience before you take the plunge, this class might be good for you.
Beginning Beekeeping Class
Beekeeping Tools
For 2025, our Winter classes will be remote via Zoom. The classes will be 4 hours long in 2 - 2 hour sessions on consecutive days and will cover honeybee biology and life cycle, pests and diseases, foraging habits, and beekeeping equipment and techniques.
Classes will run from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
We highly recommend that students read a beekeeping book beforehand in order to become familiar with beekeeping terms. we recommend Honeybees and Beekeeping by Keith Delaplane which is available below.
Scholarships to this class are available through our partner non-profit, Chicago Honey Co-op Training Center.
Hands-On Beekeeping Class
June/July Hands on Class
Coming in June and July of 2025
Our hands-on classes are meant to be a follow-up to our Winter lecture classes. They are one day long and give students practical experience with tools, lighting a smoker, hive inspection techniques and how to determine the health of a hive.
The classes will be held at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation in Back of the Yards. Lunch is a potluck. Students will get further details about a week before the class. The cost is $95.00.
We highly recommend that all class participants read a beekeeping book before they come to the class in order to have some familiarity with beekeeping terms and honeybee behavior.
Scholarships to this class are available through our partner non-profit, Chicago Honey Co-op Training Center.
swarm control for beekeepers
Swarm on Fillmore Street 2004
For the time being, this class is on hold.
This class will run from 10 AM to approximately 1 PM at Chicago Honey Co-op Work Space and will cover hive conditions that encourage swarms, swarm preparation indicators, reasons and methods to prevent swarms, reasons to encourage swarms, how to inspect a hive for swarm behavior, catching swarms and decoy hives and swarm traps. The cost is $75.00 (check back for the next swarm class)
Candle Making With Beeswax
Candle Pouring Table
Due to covid concerns, this class will not be available until we are confident there is no risk to participants.
Join a beekeeper from Chicago Honey Co-op in this candle making class specifically dedicated to Beeswax Candles. Learn the ins and outs of making candles with this unique renewable resource. Find out how honeybees make wax, how beekeepers collect it and refine it, what equipment is used and then learn how to properly heat wax and actually pour beeswax candles.
Class will last approximately from 1PM to 4PM. Participants will get hands on experience and will be able to take home the candle(s) they make.
Maximum of 8 people per class. We will add more classes if needed. (Check back for the next class)
If you want to be updated about our classes and other activities, sign up for our email updates on our Contact Us page, or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.