Bee Bootcamp

Bee Bootcamp: Beekeeping Basics for Veterans

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​We are proud to be the official state  Heroes to Hives partner offering Bee Bootcamp

with the PA State Beekeepers Association.  Registration is open for the 2025 training through February here. 

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​NWPA Beekeepers in partnership with Army Corps of Engineers will offer a Beekeeping 101 training at Woodcock Lake, Crawford County, on May 31st from 2-5 PM at the Army Corps of Engineers apiary. Free to veterans/military/their spouses. Drinks and snacks provided. No experience necessary and appropriate for those beekeeping up to 5 years. Bring protective gear (long pants, bee jacket with hood). Club will have limited extra bee suits. 

What you'll learn:

~ Preparing to Work Bees
~ Hive Inspection
~ Identifying workers, drones, queen
~ Reading the Frames
~ Evaluate buildup and making splits

Pre-registration is required by May 24th here.

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Beekeepers of Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, and Indiana if offering a beginning beekeepers training series on Saturdays in Kittanning.  More info.

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Capital Area Beekeepers (Harrisburg) has already begun their training series (flyer).Contact Gary at homers3@comcast.net   to see if late entries will be accepted.

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Chesco Bees, in Chester County, is taking registrations now for their beginning beekeeper course.

To learn more, go here and scroll down to "2025 Beginners Course". Contact Mark with questions at beginners@chescobees.com

While funds last, honorably discharged veterans or currently serving military who complete both the classroom and hands-on trainings may apply for reimbursement of the $150 fee from the PA Veteran Farming Network.

 

The course is made up of classroom virtual/in-person training and hands-on lab sessions.

Classroom sessions will be held once a month from March thru October. The class will be on the 2nd Tuesday from 7-9pm. The class will be held at Historic Sugartown's Carriage Museum. A Zoom session will be available.

 

The hands-on labs will be held at the Historic Sugartown, Bondsville Mill Park, Cheslan, and Scouting Center apiaries. Labs will take place April through September. The cohort size will be limited to six people each. When you register, you will select one location for your lab component. Rain dates will be scheduled as needed. If enough demand exists, we will add additional sessions.

Chester County Beekeepers Association is an affiliate of the PA State Beekeepers Association

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Watch this page for additional training as it becomes available.

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If you would like to attend a fee-based training listed above but the cost is prohibitive, contact us at pavetsfarm@gmail.com.

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Reimbursement for completed training may be available for eligible veterans.
 

 

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If you capture swarms, sign up at beeswarmed.org FREE to be notified of swarms in your area. 

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Heroes to Hives online training is free to veterans and their dependents. Heroes to Hives is a 9-month beginning beekeeping education course designed to train Service Members through a free online training program that is coupled with on-ground training opportunities (in select States) and to develop a community of support with other veterans. Registration for 2025 Heroes to Hives opens Nov.1, 2024.

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Honey Bee Health Coalition offers a wealth of reliable information on managing healthy hives.
 

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*A veteran  is one who served in the United States Army, Navy,

Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard, including the reserve

components thereof, and was released from the service under

conditions other than dishonorable. Active duty, and current

Guard and Reserve members are also eligible for Bee Bootcamp.