Summary of Events
Please visit the 2020 Summer Meeting page to view the videos which were prepared in lieu of a physical 2020 Summer Meeting.
Our appreciation and thanks to Adam Dolezal and his bee lab at the University of Illinois and to Eleanor Schumacher for the effort and time they spent to prepare the presentations and produce the fascinating videos.
Our appreciation and thanks to Adam Dolezal and his bee lab at the University of Illinois and to Eleanor Schumacher for the effort and time they spent to prepare the presentations and produce the fascinating videos.
Northern Illinois
Beekeeping 101 - February 3, 10, 17, 24, 2021 - Crystal Lake - IL
Spring is coming and there’s no better time to learn about bees and beekeeping. In this class we will cover bee biology, modern beekeeping techniques, construction of hives, and how to acquire bees. Keep bees for the fun of it, as a sideline job, or to help your garden and orchard. This class will be delivered via Zoom. You will be notified with access information 24 hours before the class begins.
Instructor: Larry Krengel
Fee: $59
Course Code # NPG S38 001
Wednesdays 2/3–2/24 7pm–9:30 p.m.
To register for a class, visit www.mchenry.edu/personaldevelopment or call (815) 455-8588.
McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL
Spring is coming and there’s no better time to learn about bees and beekeeping. In this class we will cover bee biology, modern beekeeping techniques, construction of hives, and how to acquire bees. Keep bees for the fun of it, as a sideline job, or to help your garden and orchard. This class will be delivered via Zoom. You will be notified with access information 24 hours before the class begins.
Instructor: Larry Krengel
Fee: $59
Course Code # NPG S38 001
Wednesdays 2/3–2/24 7pm–9:30 p.m.
To register for a class, visit www.mchenry.edu/personaldevelopment or call (815) 455-8588.
McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL
Seven Ways to Raise a Queen - March 3, 2021 - Crystal Lake, IL
The number of small-scale beekeepers is increasing, and the demand for locally raised queen bees is growing. Purchased queens are often raised in areas of Africanized honeybees or come from migratory bee operations where dangerous viruses are exchanged. Gain information on seven simple methods of raising healthy honeybee queens. With a few insights and a small amount of equipment, the backyard beekeeper can raise locally adapted queens from bee stock with a great record of winter survival, good temperament, and excellent honey production. This class will be delivered via Zoom. You will be notified with access information 24 hours before the class begins.
Instructor: Larry Krengel
Fee: $25
Course Code NPG S83 001
Wednesday 3/3 7p.m.–9:30 p.m.
To register for a class, visit www.mchenry.edu/personaldevelopment or call (815) 455-8588.
McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL
The number of small-scale beekeepers is increasing, and the demand for locally raised queen bees is growing. Purchased queens are often raised in areas of Africanized honeybees or come from migratory bee operations where dangerous viruses are exchanged. Gain information on seven simple methods of raising healthy honeybee queens. With a few insights and a small amount of equipment, the backyard beekeeper can raise locally adapted queens from bee stock with a great record of winter survival, good temperament, and excellent honey production. This class will be delivered via Zoom. You will be notified with access information 24 hours before the class begins.
Instructor: Larry Krengel
Fee: $25
Course Code NPG S83 001
Wednesday 3/3 7p.m.–9:30 p.m.
To register for a class, visit www.mchenry.edu/personaldevelopment or call (815) 455-8588.
McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL
Beekeeping Field Study - April 10, 24, 2021 - Crystal Lake, IL
This short course will provide practical, hands-on instruction for installing, manipulating, and inspecting colonies of bees. If possible, the class will meet in a bee yard, so appropriate clothing and bee equipment will be necessary. If it is not possible to meet in the bee yard, class will be delivered via Zoom. Spring is the time to start with bees, and this course will walk you through it step by step. Learn what you need to know to start out right with your bees. Please make sure to update your email address when you register for the class to ensure you receive all information in a timely manner.
Instructor: Larry Krengel
Fee: $59
Course Code # NPG S39 001
Saturdays 4/10, 4/24 10 a.m.–Noon Off-campus, TBA
To register for a class, visit www.mchenry.edu/personaldevelopment or call (815) 455-8588.
McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL
This short course will provide practical, hands-on instruction for installing, manipulating, and inspecting colonies of bees. If possible, the class will meet in a bee yard, so appropriate clothing and bee equipment will be necessary. If it is not possible to meet in the bee yard, class will be delivered via Zoom. Spring is the time to start with bees, and this course will walk you through it step by step. Learn what you need to know to start out right with your bees. Please make sure to update your email address when you register for the class to ensure you receive all information in a timely manner.
Instructor: Larry Krengel
Fee: $59
Course Code # NPG S39 001
Saturdays 4/10, 4/24 10 a.m.–Noon Off-campus, TBA
To register for a class, visit www.mchenry.edu/personaldevelopment or call (815) 455-8588.
McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL
Downstate Illinois
Introduction to Beekeeping Class 2021 - January 30, 2021 Bloomington, IL
Introduction to beekeeping class 2021 is an all day online beginner class via Zoom (8:30 AM to 5 PM) to prepare you for your first year of beekeeping. The day is packed with great content with topics including:
Door prizes include:
Fee:
$40 which includes door prizes and your first year membership to Central Illinois Beekeepers Association (CIBA) and membership to the Illinois State Beekeepers Association (ISBA)
To register:
- Hive components
- Locating your hive
- Beekeepers calendar
- Bees in your hive
- Acquiring bees
- Installing your bees
- Feeding your bees
- Winter practices
- Smoker lighting
- Visit from our local bee inspector
- Beekeeping and the law
- Pests and diseases
- Splits
- Products from the hive
- Extracting, grading, and bottling honey
- Safety in the bee yard
- Lessons of a first year beekeeper
- Acquiring resources
- Q&A
Door prizes include:
- Complete hive
- 2 - $50 gift certificates for HillCo bees
Fee:
$40 which includes door prizes and your first year membership to Central Illinois Beekeepers Association (CIBA) and membership to the Illinois State Beekeepers Association (ISBA)
To register:
- Complete the registration form at this link
- You will be contacted to arrange payment
- You'll be sent the invitation to login to Zoom on January 30, 2021
Introduction to Beekeeping - 2021 - February 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18, and 25 - Springfield, IL
Explore the fascinating world of honey bees and the steps to becoming a beekeeper in the six session “Introduction to Beekeeping” course.
This series is designed for someone interested in starting beekeeping or would just like to learn more about honey bees.
Topics to be covered by experienced beekeepers include life of the bee, common pests and diseases, bee equipment, how to assemble bee equipment, new package installation, how to inspect a hive, and care of the colony.
This year’s six part series will be offered via Zoom on Thursdays, February 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2021 from
6 pm to 7:30 pm.
In addition to the weekly sessions, participants will be encouraged to listen to pre-recorded videos and review reading material.
If current guidelines permit, sessions may also be held in person. Also, if the guidelines permit, a couple of in-person live colony examination sessions will be held.
This program is sponsored by University of Illinois Extension Logan-Menard-Sangamon Unit, Sangamon County Farm Bureau, and Prairie State Beekeepers Association.
Registration fee of $45 includes copy of First Lessons in Beekeeping book.
During the registration process, you will be asked if you can pick up the book and class handouts at a specified date and time at the Extension Office. Otherwise the shipping of the book and the handouts to you will be an additional charge.
Online pre-registration opened on January 5, 2021.
Please note: payment is by check or cash, no credit cards please!
Advance registration is required and is online via the U of I Extension Logan-Menard-Sangamon events webpage.
Class size will be limited.
Questions, call the Extension office at (217) 782-4617.
This series is designed for someone interested in starting beekeeping or would just like to learn more about honey bees.
Topics to be covered by experienced beekeepers include life of the bee, common pests and diseases, bee equipment, how to assemble bee equipment, new package installation, how to inspect a hive, and care of the colony.
This year’s six part series will be offered via Zoom on Thursdays, February 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2021 from
6 pm to 7:30 pm.
In addition to the weekly sessions, participants will be encouraged to listen to pre-recorded videos and review reading material.
If current guidelines permit, sessions may also be held in person. Also, if the guidelines permit, a couple of in-person live colony examination sessions will be held.
This program is sponsored by University of Illinois Extension Logan-Menard-Sangamon Unit, Sangamon County Farm Bureau, and Prairie State Beekeepers Association.
Registration fee of $45 includes copy of First Lessons in Beekeeping book.
During the registration process, you will be asked if you can pick up the book and class handouts at a specified date and time at the Extension Office. Otherwise the shipping of the book and the handouts to you will be an additional charge.
Online pre-registration opened on January 5, 2021.
Please note: payment is by check or cash, no credit cards please!
Advance registration is required and is online via the U of I Extension Logan-Menard-Sangamon events webpage.
Class size will be limited.
Questions, call the Extension office at (217) 782-4617.
MARCH 2021 - Heads Up: Bonus Meeting- Hamilton, IL
To celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Illinois State Beekeepers Association, Dadant & Sons will host a special meeting at its corporate headquarters in Hamilton, Illinois.
With activities such as guest speakers, tours of the factory, and a celebratory dinner, this will be a most special meeting!
The 130th anniversary has been postponed for now.
Additional information and details will be published here as it becomes available.
To celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Illinois State Beekeepers Association, Dadant & Sons will host a special meeting at its corporate headquarters in Hamilton, Illinois.
With activities such as guest speakers, tours of the factory, and a celebratory dinner, this will be a most special meeting!
The 130th anniversary has been postponed for now.
Additional information and details will be published here as it becomes available.
OUT OF STATE
None at this time.