2026 Class Offerings
All classes this year will be in person.
Classes are priced per person. For family members wishing to take classes, please add the total number of participants to the shopping cart.
To get the class discount:
- You must be a 2026 registered EDB member
- You must be logged on
Exploring what's entailed in beekeeping
Learn what's involved in keeping bees. Sponsored by the El Dorado County Farm Bureau, this one-hour overview looks at the materials, cost and time commitment needed to keep bees.
WHEN:
Sunday, Nov. 22, 10:00 am (BSM)
Saturday, Jan. 24, 10:00 am (FB)
WHERE:
El Dorado County Farm Bureau 2460 Headington Road, Placerville
PRICE:
$10
This two-part introductory class is comprised of one classroom day and one afternoon in the field. Taught by experienced club members, many in the CA Master Beekeeping Program, you’ll learn all you need to know to start beekeeping this spring.
SAT FEB 21 (cutoff to sign up is Feb 19th!)
The classroom day is divided into six small stations. You’ll learn:
- what equipment is needed to start
- how to set up a bee yard
- a tour inside the hive
- what happens throughout the year
- intro to bee biology and society
- intro to Varroa and pests in the hive
We recommend the following books for the beginner beekeeper:
- Beginner’s Guide to Beekeeping by Samantha Johnson and Daniel Johnson (FFA)
- The Beekeeper’s Handbook by Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile
- Beekeeping for Dummies by Howland Blackiston
WHEN:
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 9am to 4pm
WHERE:
Cameron Park Community Center, 2502 Country Club Drive, Cameron Park
Please arrive early to sign in.
LUNCH:
A sandwich lunch is included.
SAT APR 25
During the afternoon field day you’ll learn:
- how to light a smoker
- how to properly open, close and inspect a hive
- how to read the frames
- how to test for Varroa mites
NOTE: Bring your veil and smoker
WHEN:
Saturday, April 25, 2026, noon to 3pm
WHERE:
Bluestone Meadow Lavender Farm 2025 Carson Rd, Placerville, CA
PRICE:
$140 nonmember
$100 club member (must be logged in to get discount)
$10 youth (under eighteen) (Enter YOUTH coupon code to get discount)
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You’ve just installed your bees. What’s next? We understand that “information overload” is a given for new beekeepers. This field day class provides new beekeepers an in-hive review and demonstration of topics covered in Beginning Beekeeping.
Taught by experienced club members, many in the CA Master Beekeeping Program, you’ll review what is needed to get a good start with your new colonies.
In this 3-hour class you’ll review:
- properly identifying the three individuals in a colony: queen, drone, worker
- how to open and close a hive and how to pull a frame
- how to read the frames: Is everything OK?
- feeding your new colony
- how to test for Varroa mites
- Varroa mite treatment options
NOTE: Bring your veil and smoker
WHEN:
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 11am to 2pm
WHERE:
Sherwood Demonstration Garden and Community Observatory
6699 Campus Drive, Placerville, CA
PRICE
$45 nonmember
$35 club member (must be logged in to get discount)
$10 youth (below 18) (Enter YOUTH coupon code to get discount)
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Prerequisite: Must have successfully over-wintered one colony
Your bees survived the winter! Now what? In this intermediate class learn more about working your colonies and integrated pest management (IPM) with experienced club members, many in the CA Master Beekeeping Program.
Taught in four stations, you’ll learn:
- hive management skills: splits, swarm control, re-queening and combining hives
- The Varroa Wars: battle plans
- biology / diseases in the hive
- increasing your apiary with swarms: catch, trap, vacuum and cut-outs
WHEN:
Saturday, March 7, 2026, 9am – 2pm
WHERE:
Bluestone Meadow Farm
2025 Carson Rd, Placerville
Please arrive early to sign in.
LUNCH:
A Subway lunch is included.
PRICE:
$80 nonmember
$60 club member (must be logged in to get discount)
$10 youth (under eighteen) (Enter YOUTH coupon code to get discount)
5 students minimum
What’s a Top Bar Hive? Learn the basics of TBH beekeeping with Chuck Jachens, an experienced TBH beekeeper in the CA Master Beekeeping Program.
You’ll learn:
- Comparison to Langstroth, horizontal and Warre hives
- TBH general overview
- TBH pros and cons
- how to install bees, getting started
- inspections, comb handling and management
- how to test and treat for Varroa in a TBH
- honey harvest with a TBH
- TBH insulation and ventilation
- a construction demo of a TBH
- a panel discussion with TBH members from the club
- where to find more information
WHEN:
Saturday, June 6, 2026, 9am
WHERE:
Apiary
Apiary will be open for class only.
PRICE:
$15 club member
$10 youth (under eighteen) (Enter YOUTH coupon code to get discount)
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Saturday, July 25 | 10am - Noon
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Questions? Contact Kim Stevens [email protected].