The course consists of 8 classes from February to September.

Registration is now open. Registration will close on March 17, 2026.

Are you interested in beekeeping but have never done it before? Have you started raising honey bees and want to learn more? Perhaps you have been raising honey bees for a few years and just want some refresher techniques. If so, then the Bucks County Beginner Beekeeping Course is just the right thing for you! It offers classes that are timely to your seasonal beekeeping needs with lessons full of beekeeping insight and information in a classroom setting.

Instructor: MARK ANTUNES

WHEN: The course consists of 8 classes from February 2026 to September 2026. The schedule will always be the 3rd Tuesday of the month. (unless of a schedule conflict). Classes start at 6 PM and last until about 9 PM.

Class 1: Tuesday, February 17th

Class 2: Tuesday, March 17th

Class 3: Tuesday, April 21st

Class 4: Thursday, May 19th

Class 5: Tuesday, June 17th

Class 6: Tuesday, July 21st

Class 7: Tuesday, August 18th

Class 8: Tuesday, September 15th

WHERE: In-Person ONLY at Forest Grove Presbyterian Church

COST: A single student receives membership to the Bucks County Beekeepers Association, educational materials, and eight classes for only $150. This is over 25 hours of teaching.

Note: Family members residing in the SAME HOUSEHOLD ONLY may register the second student at a price of $130. Total for family $280

CONTACT: For more information e-mail us at: info@bucksbeekeepers.com

Please note that this class format and meeting requirements are subject to change. While it is our goal to maintain the class as it is described here, public health and safety for the students and the instructors will always be paramount.

The course consists of 8 classes from February to September.

Instructor: Vincent Aloyo, PhD (EAS certified Master Beekeeper)

PREREQUISITES: This course is designed for beekeepers who have completed Mark Antunes’ beginner class OR have at least 1 year experience with keeping bees.

WHEN: The course consists of 8 classes from February to October. The schedule will always be the 3RD Wednesday of the month. Classes will be from 6 pm to 9 pm.

Class 1. Wednesday, February 18 - Zoom Only

Class 2. Wednesday, March 18

Class 3. Wednesday, April 15

Class 4. Wednesday, May 20

Class 5. Wednesday, June 17

Class 6. Wednesday, July 15

Class 7. Wednesday, August 19

Class 8. Wednesday, September 16

This first class will be held via Zoom as noted but will otherwise be in-person at Forest Grove Presbyterian Church. There will not be a hybrid option.

WHERE:

In-Person: Forest Grove Presbyterian Church

1856 Forest Grove Rd, Forest Grove, PA 18922

Online: Zoom Web Session

Note: Family members residing in the SAME HOUSEHOLD ONLY may register for a second student at a discounted price of $130.

CONTACT: For more information e-mail us at: info@bucksbeekeepers.com

When we meet in-person, beekeepers should bring questions and their usual beekeeping attire (but a veil at minimum).

Please note that this class format and meeting requirements are subject to change. While it is our goal to maintain the class as it is described here, public health and safety for the students and the instructors will always be paramount.

One Day Seminar and Workshop

Record keeping: Techniques and Technology 

Please join us for a fun and fact filled day of learning and live demonstrations at this special BCBA workshop;

 Workshop explores the "Why" of recordkeeping into the "How" to leverage modern sensors and data collection techniques. The workshop is intended to be a pragmatic "discussion" to help the beekeeper make good/informed decisions with realistic expectations and outcomes.   Meet and interact with fellow beekeepers to learn from their experiences so you don't make the same mistakes.  Technology is an investment.

Short Agenda

• • 8:30: Arrive and mingle
  • 09:00: Kickoff (Steve/Kurt)
  • 09:10: Basics through the Broodminder Journey & Future Outlook (Kevin Inglin / Broodminder team)
  • 11:00: Hivetracks technology and usage (James Wilkes )
  • 12:30-ish: 30 working - Lunch Break
  • 13:00: Perspectives: The Need for Data, Research, Microscopy & Custom Sensors - Etienne's journey on leveraging data (Etienne Tardif)
  • 14:30: The Practitioner’s Path: A Story of Record keeping (Mark Meaders)

• Includes Continental Breakfast and Lunch
• Come early- meet and mingle all day 
• In person event - no remote option
• Capping event at around 50 participants to promote interaction and plenty of questions
• Weather permitting - club hives may be leveraged - bring a veil just in case

The BCBA owns an extractor and your membership to BCBA allows you to rent it! There is a $15 deposit for as much as three days of use. Equipment must be returned clean, dry, and in good condition. If not you may be asked to pay an additional fee and/or be prohibited from renting in the future.

BCBA does it's best to accommodate everyone's schedule but this is a busy time of year for the equipment. Please keep in mind that you can pull the honey from your hive and wait to extract if it's not possible to get the extractor on the exact day you request. Pull the honey from your hive like you normally would then store the super or frames in a clean, air-tight container (a big storage bin works well). Bring the stored bin inside and store in your laundry room or somewhere cool and away from mice, ants, or other bugs that would love to get at it. Your honey will be fine in this state until the extractor makes it's way to your home.

A HUGE thank you to member Steve Briegel who stores and helps BCBA with this extractor--be sure to thank him yourself upon pick-up/drop-off.

This new MAXANT extractor can extract 6 mediums/shallows radially and 3 deeps/medium-shallows tangentially. It also has a motor to make extracting even faster.

You will need to pick-up/drop-off the extractor in Furlong, PA. Further details will be shared via email once your registration is complete. This machine is 18.5" in diameter, and 24.5" in height, the stainless steel spinner should fit in most cars.

Included with rental of the extractor:

• hot uncapping knife
• plastic uncapping tank
• uncapping scratcher
• 5-gallon pail with honey gate and filters