Courses

Courses Header

Content

Below are certified courses for the Great Plains Master Beekeeping program as well as the Learning Objectives they count towards. Remember, you can take any level course; the credits simply won't count until you have fullfilled your other requirements and move to the next level. We will continue to add more courses as they become available.

Remember to report your courses withing 60 days of taking it to recieve credit in the GPMB program. 

Please bring payment in the form of cash or check to the event unless otherwise specified. For event cancellation due to bad weather, we will email you 5 hours prior to the event start time. We will also post on the Facebook page @GPMBeekeeping and the Events Page.  Please be sure to register for the event so you can receive updates. 

 

Field Training

Open Apiary Field training sites can be found on this map HERE. simply click on the site you are closest to and find dates, location, and contact information there. 

Big Bug Bonanza Spring Break Camp!

March 9, 2026, 9:00 am to March 13, 2026, 4:00 pm
East Campus Entomology Hall

 

Join UNL Bee Lab extension team for the Big Bug Bonzana Spring Break Camp! Through hands-on activities and investigations, crafts, and games, campers will explore the world of bugs! Campers will dive into the diversity of insects, animal adaptations and habitats, and ecological roles. Campers will explore pollination and indicator organisms and discover how we can help these important critters. With opportunities to examine pinned and live insects, campers will get to bug-out on bugs! 


 

 

State: Nebraska

UNL Bee Lab Open Apiaries 2026

See Description for Date(s)

 

Click to sign up for this year's open apiaries. Dates and times included inside. 

East campus open apiaries are 2nd Thursdays in the pollinator garden at 6 Pm to 7 PM

March 12 - April 9th - May 14th - June 11th - July  9th  - August 13th - September 10th

 

Kimmel Open apiaries are 3rd Thursdays at Kimmel orchard Nebraska City

April 16th - May 21st -  June 18th - July 16th - August 20th - September  17th - Oct  15th

 

 

State: Nebraska

Beekeepers Association of the Ozarks

See Description for Date(s)
2429 W Sunshine St Springfield, MO 65807 United States

 

The Beekeepers association of the Ozarks is offering several classes as well as monthly meetings for its members in Missouri. 

More info from the website below.

 

"The Beekeepers Association of the Ozarks is a non-profit organized November 11, 1974, and was formed to engage in activities promoting the common interest of beekeeping and the general welfare of the honey bee. Currently we have over 200 members that cover Greene and the surrounding counties. 

 

State: Missouri

Open Teaching Apiary MO Northland Beekeepers , Smithville

See Description for Date(s)
18100 HH Lake Road, Smithville, MO 64089

 

Northland Beekeepers is a small group of beekeepers located North of the Missouri River (Smithville area) dedicated to sharing our knowledge, experiences, and tips to help each other "bee" successful in our apiary efforts. Northland Beekeepers maintains an open apiary under the direction of the Great Plains Master Beekeeping Program on behalf of The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Bee Lab.

 

Northland Beekeepers Open Apiary: 18100 HH Lake Road, Smithville, MO 64089

Sponsored by the Great Plains Master Beekeepers Program, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Bee Lab.

 

State: Missouri

Iowa Open Teaching Apiary - Honey Hollow

See Description for Date(s)
13778 Summerset Rd, Indianola, IA 50125

 

An Open Teaching Apiary is a loosely structured, hands-on field training opportunity where participants gather around active beehives in a shared learning environment. During these sessions, hives are opened up for inspection, and students can observe the current stages of colony development, ask questions, and engage in guided discussions. Whether you're managing your own hives or preparing to get your first bees, this setting offers real-time experience and valuable insight into practical beekeeping techniques, seasonal hive conditions, and problem-solving in the field.

 

State: Iowa

Crooked Hill Beekeeping MO

See Description for Date(s)
19133 LIV 355, Chillicothe, MO 64601

 

Each open apiary is based on the season and what is normally needed in an apiary for that time of year. Our open apiary activities include most activities involved in beekeeping. Examples are; hive inspections, hive management based on the hive and season the inspection is made, pest monitoring and control measures, queen marking, etc. Wed May 21, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Sun Jun 8, 2025 at 12:00 noon. Tues July 8, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Sat Aug 2, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Wed Sep 3, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Thur Oct 9 at 10:00 a.m.

 

State: Missouri

Open Apiary Meridan Kansas

See Description for Date(s)
Meriden KS

 

Open Apiary times are an informal, unstructured gathering of members of the Great Plains Master Beekeeping Program. They are held at Open Teaching Apiary sites across the Central USA on a monthly basis and will allow you to recieve field training in beekeeping prior to even owning bees.

 

State: Kansas

Omaha Beekeeping Club

See Description for Date(s)
5201 Center St, Omaha NE

 

The Omaha bee club has several events for 2026! More information on their website below.

 

https://www.omahabeeclub.com/

Questions? Reach out to : askomahabeeclub@gmail.com
 

 

State: Nebraska

Eastern Missouri Beekeeping Assosiation

See Description for Date(s)
Isabee's 765 Gravois Rd. Fenton, MO. 63026

 

Eastern Missouri Beekeeping Association has several events going on throughout the year. Check out their website for more info!

 

State: Missouri

Maple City VFW Post 2406 - GPMB Open Apiary

See Description for Date(s)
695 Lansing Rd, Charlotte, MI 48813

 

These classes will be taught at the Maple City VFW Post 2406 in Charlotte, MI in the back of the post. This Apiary is NOW approved by the University of Nebraska - Lincoln Extension Bee Lab for training.

 

State: Michigan

Rolla Bee Club

January 15, 2026, 12:00 am to March 21, 2026, 12:00 pm
Doolittle Community Hall, 380 Eisenhower, Rolla, Mo

 

Rolla Bee Club hosts regular Bee Keeping Classes

 

State: Missouri
Course Standards: 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.10 | 1.11 | 1.12 | 1.13 | 1.14 | 1.15 | 1.16 | 1.17 | 1.18 | 1.19 | 1.20

Level 2 UNL Beekeeping Course: UNL East Campus - Beehive Necropsy

April 25, 2026, 9:00 am to April 25, 2026, 4:00 pm
Entomology Hall Room 202

 

This course is meant for beekeepers with at least one year of experience. This workshop will go over how to diagnose and determine what is causing colonies to decline. We will look at factors, symptoms, and signs of varroa mites, brood diseases, queen issues, poor nutrition, and other causes of hive loss.

 

State: Nebraska

Level 1 UNL Beekeeping Workshop 2026: Schramm - 2 Sessions

March 21, 2026, 9:00 am to April 11, 2026, 5:00 pm
Session 1: Schramm Education Center. Session 2: Pollinator Garden on East Campus, UNL Apiary 40.828970, -96.655257

 

Beekeeping 101 courses cover the hows, whats, and whys of beekeeping basics. These short courses are intended to help people understand how to get started, what to expect, and how to assemble the proper equipment, bees, and safety gear. Each course pairs a series of lectures with field demonstrations and hands-on activities to help participants prepare for their own hives and feel confident in their beekeeping skills. 

 

State: Nebraska
Course Standards: 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.10 | 1.11 | 1.12 | 1.13 | 1.14 | 1.15 | 1.16 | 1.17 | 1.18 | 1.19 | 1.20