Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives are the five main topics that describe the type of learning that each beekeeper is required to do. The purpose of the Learning Objectives is to create a well-rounded knowledge base for a beekeeper as he or she progresses through the program.

That is why becoming a Master Beekeeper doesn't just mean that you can manage a large number of hives, but that you can make products, conserve land resources, understand the organism that makes all of that possible, and so that you can become an advocate and teach others about bees.

Bee Management Skills

Honey bees are livestock; they need to be fed, treated for mites, and properly controlled so your bees don’t become a problem for other beekeepers. Management skills are diverse but there are certain things that must be done in order to be a person who KEEPs bees vs a person who HAS bees.

Land Stewardship Conservation Practices

Bees need nectar and pollen to survive. Diverse floral landscapes provide the best foraging opportunities for healthy and robust colonies. Learning how to feed your bees by providing landscape-level foraging is the simplest step in maintaining healthy colonies.

Bee Biology, Ecology

The honey bee is a very complex super-organism. Understanding the honey bee ecology will allow you to make decisions when complex situations arise.

Business, Marketing, Economics

Even if you keep honey bees only as a hobby, they will produce multiple products people can buy. Understanding these products and how to make them will give you more avenues to expand your knowledge of bees and their contributions.

Professional Development

The internet is a great resource, but misinformation can detriment beekeepers. Communicating credible information will make you a better mentor to other beekeepers and an advocate for bees.

Apprentice (0-2 yrs experience)

The Apprentice level of the GPMB program is where you get your start with bees and learn the fundamentals.

-

Journeyman (2-5 yrs experience)

The Journeyman segment of the program is when you build on fundamentals with more advanced topics in detail.

Master Candidate (5+ yrs experience)

The final segment before graduation. Here you will learn about some of the most advanced techniques beekeeping has to offer as well as the science that led us to the methods.