Beekeeping Academy

Early Bird Special $180/Month

  • Sign-up by December 31, 2025 with a $100 deposit. Deposit applied to first month’s payment.

  • Regular price $240/month. Deposit of $100 required to sign-up.

  • Classes begin in January 2026 and run through October 2026.

  • 1-2 Zoom classes per month, all lessons recorded.

  • 1 weekend a month hands on in the apiary.

  • Opportunities to gain additional experience making splits and collecting swarms.

  • Includes 4 private inspections in your bees! If you don’t have bees join us at a Sister Creek Hives apiary for your private sessions!

  • Option to purchase bees at the end of the season!

Immerse yourself in an extraordinary 10-month journey with the Beekeeping Academy, nestled right in the heart of the Texas Hill Country! This isn’t just a class — it’s a full season of hands-on, behind-the-scenes access to honey bee colonies in Langstroth, Long-Lang, and Top Bar hive styles spread across picturesque teaching apiaries.

From January through October, watch the bees stir from winter torpor and stay alongside them through every fascinating phase of the beekeeping calendar. Experience the rhythm of slow, chemical-free beekeeping that honors the natural life cycle of the colony. You’ll learn how to keep bees healthy without harsh chemicals, discover when and how to harvest pure honey, and learn effective natural methods to manage pests and diseases — all while deepening your connection to the bees themselves.

What truly sets this experience apart is our small, intimate groups. This means you won’t just learn about bees — you’ll observe their behaviors in detail and develop a respectful, personal relationship with your hives. It’s a close-knit community where curiosity and care come first, making every lesson engaging and deeply impactful.

If you’ve ever wanted to step beyond theory and truly live the beekeeping lifestyle, the Beekeeping Academy is your chance to do just that. Join us in this unique, immersive experience where nature, knowledge, and mindful stewardship come together in perfect harmony. Don’t just keep bees — understand them, respect them, and thrive alongside them!

Beekeeping Academy 2026 Deposit

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Zoom Syllabus

Final Dates TBD

Jan.

Week 1:

  • Welcome: Meet & Greet!

  • Personal Story

  • Course Review

  • Post Winter Solstice: What are the bees doing now?

  • How to Check Your Bees During Winter Months

  • Apiary Setup

    Week 2:

  • Beekeeping Equipment- Get Your Gear Ready!

  • Humanity’s Relationship with Honey Bees: From Predators to Protectors

  • Hive Resources - Wax, Honey, Propolis etc.

Feb.

Week 1:

  • Life Cycle of Honey Bees and the Colony

  • Honey Bees as a Super Organism

  • Weather Update and Gear Check

    Week 2:

  • Honey Bee Nutrition

  • Robbing Behavior vs. Orientation Flights

  • Buying Bees

March

  • Honey Bee Biology

  • Queen and Colony Pheromones

  • Early Signs of Swarming

  • Space Management: Brood Nest Expansion

  • Preparing for Splits: Leveraging Swarm Cells

    • Recommended Reading for April: Song of Increase

April

  • Hive Inspection 101 & Record Keeping

  • Identifying a Nectar Flow

  • Making Splits: Walk Away

  • Drones in a Colony

    • Recommended Reading for May: Honey Pest and Diseases

May

  • Disease Identification in Brood Nest, Queen & Adult Bees

  • Managing for Varroa Mites: Harbo and Sugar Wash

  • How to Re-queen a Hive

  • Preparing for Summer Dearth: Bees and Beekeepers! - tips to stay cool and hydrated

June

  • Colony Health Assessments

  • Summer Solstice

  • Dearth Management

  • Robbing Behavior: How to Protect Your Hives

  • Preparing for Honey Harvest

July

  • Varroa Management: Brood Breaks and Re-queening

  • Summer Feeding: What and Why?

  • Honey and Wax Harvest

August

  • Identifying Stress in the Hive

  • Preparing for Fall Splits and Combines

September

  • Space Management: Preparing for Winter

  • Brood Health Assessments: Case Studies from the Apiary

  • Fall and Winter Feeding: What & Why?

October

  • Pre-Winter Inspections

  • Propolis: Benefits in the Hive

  • Honey Bee Torpor

  • Winter Bees

  • Winter in the Apiary: Lift Tests & Bee Gazing

In Person Syllabus

4th Weekend Each Month - Final Dates TBD

Jan.

  • Assembling Beekeeping Equipment: Top Bar Hives, Langstroth Frames & Supers

  • Painting & Weatherizing Hives

  • Preparing Swarm Boxes

Feb.

  • Waxing Plastic Foundations

  • Rescue Bars: Top Bar Hive

  • Hanging and Baiting Swarm Boxes

  • Hive Inspections: Post Winter Assessments weather permitting

March

  • Hive Inspections: Space Management

  • Early Spring Feeding: What & Why?

  • Colony Health Assessments: Brood Nest Inspections

  • Early Signs of Swarming

  • Making Splits- Leveraging Swarm Cells & Mini Mating Nucs

    • Recommended Reading for April: Song of Increase

April

  • Hive Inspections: Signs of Swarming & Brood Nest Expansion

  • Equalizing Colonies: Sharing Resources

  • Making Splits: Walk Away vs Swarm Cells

    • Option to join multiple times throughout the month.

  • Identifying a Nectar Flow

  • Installing Nucs and Packages

  • Identify Queens & Drones in a Colony

    • Recommended Reading for May: Honey Pest and Diseases

May

  • Hive Inspections: Identifying Pests and Diseases

  • Managing for Varroa Mites: Harbo and Sugar Wash

  • How to Re-queen a Hive

June

  • Hive Inspections: Colony Health Assessments

  • Dearth Management

  • Robbing Behavior vs. Orientation Flights

  • Preparing for Honey Harvest

July

  • Hive Inspections: Varroa Management, Brood Breaks & Re-queening

  • Summer Feeding: What & Why?

  • Honey and Wax Harvest

August

  • Hive Inspections: Identifying Stress in the Hive

  • Preparing for Fall Splits and Combines

September

  • Hive Inspections: Space Management in the Hive

  • Brood Health Assessment: Case Studies from the Apiary

  • Fall and Winter Feeding: What & Why?

October

  • Hive Inspections: Fall Combines & Equalizing Resources

  • Assessment of Winter Resources in the Hive

  • Space Management

  • Winterizing the Apiary