Courses

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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. 

Open Teaching Apiary: Test-Out and Hands-On Learning

June 22, 2025, 8:30 am to June 22, 2025, 10:00 am
Must RSVP to Jeff Maddox (call/text 317-698-8088 or email Jeff@417Bees.com)

 

You're Invited to a Unique Hands-On Beekeeping Experience!

Join us after MO Bee Day 2025 at the Beekeepers Association of the Ozarks apiary in Springfield, MO, for an exclusive teaching session in the field.

Dr. Judy Wu-Smart from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Bee Lab, along with Jeff Maddox, will be working the hives and sharing their unique approaches to beekeeping. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn directly from two experienced and knowledgeable mentors.

 

Open Apiary Missouri 2025: Rolla Bee Club

See Description for Date(s)
476 Eisenhower Street, Rolla MO 65401

 

Hive inspection how-to, what to look for, identifying queens & drones, varroa mite counts (alcohol & sugar wash), making splits (how-to) \, when to add supers/frames, apiary maintenance & clean-up (removing weeds near colonies, etc.). Students are instructed and shown what/how to complete tasks and then are performing tasks under supervision.


From 10 a.m. to noon. (fourth Sunday of the month)  

April 27,    Rain cancellation Make up date May 7th

May 25, 

June 22, 

July 27. 

August 24, 

 

State: Missouri

Beginning Beekeeping Country Creek Honey (Kansas)

See Description for Date(s)
124 NW Fillmore St, Topeka, KS 66606

 

This course is taught by Becky and Steve Tipton: Becky Tipton is a master beekeeper with over 35 years of experience keeping bees in NE Kansas. She and her husband, Steve, own Country Creek Honey and manage around 70 hives. They sell honey and a variety of skin care products with beeswax and honey. Becky is the current president of the Kansas Honey Producers. 

They will cover Beginning beekeeping: Bee Biology, equipment needs, acquiring bees, seasonal management, harvesting honey, hive health and disease recognition, mite management, wax rendering (optional)

 

State: Kansas
Course Standards: 1.1 | 1.13 | 1.14

Open Teaching Apiary Missouri: Beekeepers Association of the Ozarks

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

 

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: Missouri

Nebraska Open Teaching Apiary 25: Kimmel Orchard and Vineyard

See Description for Date(s)
5995 G Road Nebraska City, NE 68410

 

Step into the hive with the Open Teaching Apiary at Kimmel Orchard—an educational series designed for beekeepers of all levels. Led by Shelby Memeti, a Master’s student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Bee Lab, each monthly session offers hands-on instruction and seasonal insights into hive health, management strategies, and sustainable practices. 

6-7PM

May 15, 2025, 

June 19, 2025, 

July 17, 2025, 

August 21, 2025

 

State: Nebraska

Open Teaching Apiary Oklahoma 2025: Easom Farms

See Description for Date(s)
8656 Banner Rd, Slaughterville, Ok 73051

 

We teach each and indoor class first part of the day and hands on outdoor the second part of the day. Each third Sat. March through Nov. Each month covers hive inspection with different syllabus training.

 

Third Sat. Each Month 

March-Nov. 9am-4pm

 

State: Oklahoma

Open Teaching Apiary MO 2025: Northland Beekeepers , Smithville

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

 

SCHEDULE

29 March 2025 - 11:00 AM CST Spring Hive Management Activities 

12 April 2025 - 11:00 AM CST Swarm Management / Splitting Colonies 

10 May 2025 - 11:00 AM CST Summer Hive Management Activities 

14 June 2025 - 11:00 AM CST Health Inspections / Identify Queen / Identify Drones / Add Honey Supers (If needed) 

12 July 2025 - 11:00 AM CST Health Inspections / Identify Queen / Add Honey Supers (If needed) 

9 August 2025 - 11:00 AM CST Health Inspections / Identify Queen / Varroa check and management options 

 

State: Missouri

Iowa Open Teaching Apiary 2025: 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

Open Apiary Kansas 2025: Country Creek Honey

See Description for Date(s)
9491 X Road, Meriden, KS 66512

 

We work through various hives to showcase a variety of hive situations.

 

State: Kansas

Crooked Hill Beekeeping MO Open Apiary 2025

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

Indiana Open Apiary 2025: St. Peters Apiary

See Description for Date(s)
St. Peter's Episcopal Church - 950 E. Washington St., Lebanon, Indiana 46052

 

Pre-Registration Required email: askharvesthouse@gmail.com St. Peter's Apiary is operated and maintained by Chuck Dailey, a Certified Master Beekeeper. The apiary was created in 2014 and is part of Growing Common Ground Farm, a community outreach program of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. St. Peter's Apiary has been a teaching facility since inception.

 

State: Indiana

Omaha Beekeeping Club Open Apiary

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

 

- 26 Apr – install bees, making and feeding 1:1 syrup / Swarm traps and
catching swarms Instructors – Brad Sumter and Steve Callicutt
- 10 May – Inspections and Varroa sampling / Splits and resource hives
- 7 Jun – Honey super management / Varroa treatments
- 12 Jul – Extraction / Managing defensive bees and removing supers
- 2 Aug – Finding and marking the queen / Requeening
- 6 Sep - Insulating for the winter and winter feeding for beginners,
combining and managing hives for the winter and spring

 

 

State: Nebraska

Isabees Open Apiary

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

 

Open Apiary times are an informal, unstructured gathering of members of the Great Plains Master Beekeeping Program, St. Louis Region. All hive inspections will be during the 1st hour at Isabee’s bee yard. The 2nd hour will be held at Isabee’s meeting room, going over the topics for that month, and any other areas of concern.

 

State: Missouri

First Year Beekeeping Class- Rolla MO 2025- 3 sessions

See Description for Date(s)
1341 California, the Brownwood Estates Clubhouse

 

Rolla Bee Club will hold beginning beekeeping classes during three Mondays March 3, March 10 and March 17 from 6-8 p.m. at 1341 California, the Brownwood Estates Clubhouse. You must pre-register since seating is limited, and attend all three sessions to cover the material and get class credit

 

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

2025 Beginning Beekeeping Workshop – Johnson County MO

March 15, 2025, 8:00 am to March 15, 2025, 4:40 pm
Church of Hope Centerview. 580 NW 105th Rd, Centerview MO 64019

 

This intensive workshop is designed for beginning, new, and for experienced beekeepers desiring a firm foundation in the art and science of beekeeping management. The two-part 10.5-hour course is hosted by the Johnson County Missouri Beekeepers Association.
The JoCoMoBA professional team of presenters come from a pool of seasoned and commercial beekeepers. 

Questions? May also call 660-656-3485 or 660-525-5828

 

State: Missouri

Bee Wellness for Military Personnel & Family

See Description for Date(s)
University of Nebraska Lincoln Pollinator Garden and Outdoor Classroom

 

This course is free to Active, Retired, Reserve, National Guard, and any branch of service, and immediate family. Individuals under the age of 19 are considered minors and require a guardian’s presence and signed approval.

 

State: Nebraska

Open Teaching Apiary- Lincoln NE East Campus 2025

See Description for Date(s)
Pollinator Garden on East Campus, UNL Apiary 40.828970, -96.655257

 

Open Apiary are loosely structured field trainings that are based around topics that equip attendees with the next steps they need in their own hives, or hands on training before they obtain their own hives.

 

State: Nebraska

Maple City VFW Post 2406 - GPMB Open Apiary 2025

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

Second Year Beekeeping Class- Rolla MO 2025

March 22, 2025, 8:00 am to March 22, 2025, 5:00 pm
Doolittle Community Hall, 380 Eisenhower, Rolla, Mo

 

​This class will review basic techniques from how to introduce queens, swarm catching and management, splitting and combining colonies, and more basic techniques

 

Course Standards: 2.1 | 2.14 | 2.15 | 2.21 | 2.22

Level 1 UNL Beekeeping Course 2025: UNL East Campus – 8 Tuesday evening Sessions

March 18, 2025, 6:00 pm to May 6, 2025, 8:00 pm
See Session Details

 

Description: This is an introductory level course that focuses on everything you need to start beekeeping, including topics on beekeeping equipment, protective gear, honey bee biology, stressors, and management basics. Sessions 1-4 of the course includes lectures, hands-on activities, and demos by several speakers. Sessions 5-8 of the course is field training that gets you in the hives and takes the lessons from Sessions 1-4 into practice. Learn how to setup the equipment, install and handle bees safely, and perform hive inspections.

 

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

Level 1 UNL Beekeeping Workshop 2025: Kimmel - 2 Sessions

March 29, 2025, 9:00 am to March 29, 2025, 4:00 pm
Kimmel Orchard, 5995 G Road, Nebraska City, NE

 

This is an introductory-level course that focuses on everything you need to start beekeeping, including topics on beekeeping equipment, protective gear, honey bee biology, stressors, and management basics. 

 

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

Level 1 UNL Beekeeping Workshop 2025: Schramm - 2 Sessions

March 15, 2025, 9:00 am to April 12, 2025, 4:00 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