Bee Prepared - October 2025

Have you fallen in love with the honey bees in your garden or during a visit to Beekeeping 101? Are you ready to take the next step to become a full-fledged beekeeper? Do you want to make this your most memorable autumn ever? We have exactly the thing for you! 

This course provides the instruction and hands-on experience to turn a beginner into a confident backyard beekeeper. Topics include hive management, bee biology, recognizing and treating common diseases and predators, legal requirements of keeping bees in Long Beach, and more.

After completing the course successfully and at the board's discretion, participants are eligible to receive a starter bee colony at no additional cost -- subject to availability. Frames and other hive equipment are not included.  Please let us know if you plan to adopt a colony and have your own equipment.

Please read the dates carefully. This course includes one in-person classroom lecture, one optional field trip to a local beekeeping supply shop, one in-person introduction to the apiary, two Zoom lectures, and one mentorship session in the bee yard. Attendance to all components is highly encouraged.

• The in-person classroom "Introduction to Beekeeping" will take place TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, from 6-8PM at EDCO Recycling Center.
• An optional field trip to a beekeeping supplier will take place, scheduled for SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11. Carpooling options will be available.
• The first online Zoom lecture on Bee Anatomy will take place TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 7-9PM.
• The In-person "Introduction to the Apiary" for Group A will take place SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 9-11AM.
• The second online Zoom lecture on Diseases, Pests, and IPM will take place TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 7-9PM.
• Each student will sign up for ONE mentorship session. Dates available are Saturday, OCTOBER 25, 9-11AM **OR** Sunday, OCTOBER 26, 9-11AM; Space is limited to six spots per date. After registering, you will receive an email to sign up for the mentor session. 
• PLEASE NOTE: We will provide protective jackets and gloves for the "Introduction to the Apiary" session on October 18. ALL STUDENTS will need their own beekeeping jacket/suit, gloves, hive tool, and smoker by the time of their scheduled mentorship session (weekend of October 25/26).

PRO-TIP: Member class fee is $80. Non-member class fee is $105. Membership is $25. If you are not already a member, become one before registering. Pay the same price (25+80=105), and get all the benefits of membership for a whole year!