Summer Picnic and Bee Extravaganza
- Length
- 2 Days
- Language
- English
- Event Format
- In-Person
About The In-Person Workshop
Join us for a fun-filled, educational weekend focused on bees, beekeeping, and hive products. Participants will engage in hands-on activities, demonstrations, and informative presentations designed for all experience levels. Saturday features the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association Summer Picnic, Beekeeping Olympics, and a drone congregation area-finding activity. On Sunday, attendees will rotate through 30–60-minute sessions across three tracks: beginning beekeeping, experienced beekeeping, and value-added product production, followed by a late-afternoon drone congregation area-finding activity. Lunch is provided both days.
Track Sessions (Offered Day 2)
- Beginning Beekeeping - Designed for new beekeepers, this track covers foundational hive management skills including varroa mite testing, efficient hive inspections, and splitting a colony. Participants will also observe demonstrations of mite treatments and engage in hands-on activities such as drone marking practice to support queen marking techniques, along with additional introductory topics.
- Experienced Beekeeping - Designed for more advanced beekeepers, this track focuses on colony management and breeding practices, including performing a Demaree, evaluating mite resistance traits (VSH, mite biting, and hygienic behavior), and observing instrumental insemination. Additional topics include pollen collection and cleaning and other advanced management techniques.
- Value-Added Products - This track focuses on transforming hive products into market-ready goods, including rendering beeswax, making beeswax wraps, and producing balms and salves. Participants will also learn techniques for preparing honey for shows and using a solar wax melter, along with other value-added production methods.
All participants have the option to attend presentations on native bees, varroa mite IPM, and more, as well as tour a mobile honey extraction trailer.
Funding for this program is provided in part by the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association.
Space is limited. Registering before the event is encouraged and appreciated!
- Beginning or aspiring beekeepersÂ
- Experienced beekeepersÂ
- Crafters who use beehive products
- How to locate drone congregation areasÂ
- Beginning beekeeping skills, including varroa mite testing, efficient hive inspections, colony splitting, mite treatment demonstrations, and hands-on drone marking practiceÂ
- Advanced beekeeping techniques, including performing a Demaree, measuring mite resistance traits, observing instrumental insemination, and pollen collection and cleaningÂ
- Value-added product production, including rendering beeswax, making beeswax wraps, crafting balms and salves, preparing honey for shows, and using a solar wax melterÂ
- Additional topics for all participants, including native bees, integrated pest management for varroa mites, and a tour of a mobile honey extraction trailer
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Contact our customer service team at 1-877-345-0691 for assistance over the phone. We are here to help on weekdays between 8:30am - 5pm Eastern Time.
Who do I contact if I still have questions about the event?
Contact our customer service team online or by phone at 1-877-345-0691. We are here to help on weekdays between 8:30am - 5pm Eastern Time.
