beekeepers

Lehigh Valley Beekeepers Association will hold a four-session “Introduction to Beekeeping” course 7-9:30 p.m. Wednesday evenings, Feb. 3 and 17 and March 2 and 16, in the Academic Resource Center (ARC), rooms 103 and 111, at Lehigh Carbon Community College, 4525 Education Park Drive, Schnecksville.

There is a registration fee, which includes a reference book, course materials, refreshments and planned field trips to the club apiary for a hands-on experience. Youth under the age of 16, accompanied by a registered adult, are invited to attend at a reduced fee. The 2016 classes will be the fifth consecutive year with past enrollments between 55 to 65 students. Class size is limited.

The classes will cover basic bee biology, necessary equipment, setting up the hive and adding the bees, a typical year in the life of a beekeeper, honeybee pests and treatment options, and small-group workshops on assembling hives and components, hive ventilation, feeding and honey extraction. Instructors will be experienced association beekeepers, including several whom are certified master beekeepers.

If you have questions prior to registering, stop by the Lehigh County Ag Center, 4184 Dorney Park Road, Allentown, 1-3 p.m. Jan. 16 for a meeting and to talk to instructors. Adults with paid registration prior to or during this informational meeting will receive a discount off their registration fee.

Registration also can be processed by visiting the association’s website, lehighvalleybeekeepers.org, or by contacting course coordinator Blaine Holden at blaineholden@hotmail.com or 610-767-0306.