Education > HCBA Classes
Registration for our One Day Seminar and Beginning Beekeeping Course is Open!
One-Day Seminar (ODS)
October 25, 2025
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Howard County Fairgrounds Dining Hall
This seminar is only offered 'in person'.
Are you thinking about keeping honey bees and want more information? This one-day informational seminar will give you an overview of the considerations you need to help you decide if beekeeping is for you.
This is an informational session and is not intended to be a beginning beekeeper course. If you are planning to keep honey bees, you will want to attend our Beginning Beekeeping Course.
The one-day seminar is designed as an overview of considerations for beekeeping. Topics include:
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Benefits of keeping bees
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Basic honey bee biology
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Start-up equipment and supplies needed
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How to obtain bees
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Products of the hive
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How to help pollinators
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Considerations for starting
Beginning Beekeeping Course (BBC)
6 Consecutive Wednesday Sessions, starting February 4, 2026
6:30 - 9:00 PM
Howard County Fairgrounds Dining Hall or Online
If you are seriously considering keeping honey bees, or have decided to start this coming spring (or just want to learn more about these amazing creatures) this is the course for you! The 8-session Beginning Beekeeper Course (BBC) will give you the detailed information needed to start well.
The course also includes an additional hands-on field day. A sample of the topics covered includes:
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Honey Bee Biology and Behavior
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Preparing to keep Bees: Zoning, Apiary Site Locations, and other considerations
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Ways to Obtain Honey Bees
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How to Start Honey Bee Colonies
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Foraging, Food, and the Nectar Flow
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Inspecting Colonies and Recommended Management Practices
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Feeding Bees
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Registering Your Bees with the State
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Honey Bee Pests
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Honey Bee Diseases
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And much more – Including a Field Day with demonstrations and hands-on opportunities