Beekeeping

Have you wanted to explore the habitats of bees?  Do you wonder which plants bees like to pollinate?  Do you want to know how bees make honey?  Then the 4-H Beekeeping project is right up your alley. You will learn about the world of bees and have fun doing it.

Beekeeping Unit 1, Jr./Int./Sr.

Beekeeping Unit 1

Inspiring youth to:

  • Shadow an experienced beekeeper and learn to use equipment, open the hive, and clean up procedures
  • Learn about the history of beekeeping and why honey bees are valuable
  • Learn about the three different types of honey bees, their anatomy and life stages
  • Observe what happens at the entrance of a hive
  • See the different activities of the honey bee
  • Catalogue various species of flowers and observe the bees landing on the blooms
  • Lease, obtain equipment and take care of honey bees

 

Beekeeping Unit 2, Jr./Int./Sr.

Beekeeping Unit 2

Inspiring youth to:

  • Learn the various ways of obtaining bees and take care of a beehive of your own for a full year
  • Learn about the various diseases and mites common to honey bees
  • Visit Beekeepers Association meetings and join a community of beekeepers
  • Keep records of the honey bees activities. their conditions, equipment, finances, and your labor
  • Learn how to manage a bee hive and how to keep them alive and healthy
  • Learn how to extract honey and market it for sale

 

Beekeeping Unit 3, Jr./Int./Sr.

Beekeeping Unit 3

Inspiring youth to:

  • Learn advanced techniques for taking care of bee hives
  • Learn how to keep a strong, populous colonies with young queens and the art of labeling your queens and requeening when needed
  • Learn how to manage mites and other issues with the honey bees
  • Keep record sheets of your work and expenses
  • Learn how to split colonies and increase your hive numbers