Heroes to Hives

Bee Wise Farms’ Heroes to Hives 2022 Workshops

Instructor: Dr. Adam Ingrao adam@miffs.org

Training Location: Bee Wise Farms, 10192 State Highway M28, Newberry, MI 49868

These are FREE Workshops for military veterans and their dependents registered for the Heroes to Hives program through Michigan State University. You MUST be currently registered in the Heroes to Hives program to participate in these events. REGISTER NOW AT www.HEROESTOHIVES.com.

Program Description and Objective

Heroes to Hives (H2H) is a beginning beekeeping education course for military veterans, National Guard members, reservists, active duty personnel and their dependents. Over the 2022 beekeeping season we will provide you with hands-on experience in basic hive inspection and handling skills. All instruction is science based, and will be taught with a focus on understanding and identifying the needs of bees, raising healthy and productive colonies, management of a sustainable apiary operation, and building a supportive network of beekeepers and beekeeping resources.

Bee Wise Farms’ Site Expectations

No equipment is required for the course and students will be provided with all necessary equipment to manage hives during field days including; veil, hive tool, and smoker (nitrile gloves will be provided). If you want to bring your own veil or gloves that is okay; however, no outside smokers or hive tools will be allowed at BWF.
Participants are required to wear veils/protective clothing while in the apiary, and dress appropriately for working outdoors with bees.
No one under 18 is allowed at our on-ground trainings.
Please let the instructors know of any movement/lifting restrictions, and work slowly and in pairs to prevent injury.
Please discuss the risks of beekeeping with your physician, and decide with them if you should get an epipen, or undergo testing for potential allergies.
You do not need any experience working bees to take part in this program.
You do not need to own bees to participate in the program (I prefer you don’t have bees this year if you have never kept bees before).
There is no smoking allowed at BWF (besides the smoker for your bees, of course).
Colonies in the teaching apiaries are not to be opened until after a smoker is lit. During class times, colonies will not be opened without instructor permission.
Be respectful. Make sure that you help maintain a supportive and productive learning environment. Offensive behavior and/or language towards others will not be tolerated.
Although you will be taught proper hive handling skills, getting stung is part of beekeeping. If this is not okay with you then you may want to rethink beekeeping.
Workshops are not recorded. We do not film workshops as it is a distraction to attendees and instructors.

All on-ground workshop dates may change due to weather, the questions of the class, and needs of the bees in the teaching apiary. Bees are animals and although we like to have a schedule, their needs may not coincide with our schedule and we will adjust this syllabus as needed.

On-ground Workshops Dates and times of each workshop are listed below. Dates may change depending on weather, needs of the bees, and requests from the class. All BWF H2H Open Apiary Hours listed below will be in the field working live bee hives and conducting seasonally appropriate management.

JUNE

25th 12pm - 3pm: H2H Open Apiary Hours at Bee Wise Farms 10192 State Highway M-28, Newberry, MI.

JULY

16th 12pm - 3pm: H2H Open Apiary Hours at Bee Wise Farms 10192 State Highway M-28, Newberry, MI.

AUGUST

20th 12pm - 3pm: H2H Open Apiary Hours at Bee Wise Farms 10192 State Highway M-28, Newberry, MI.

SEPTEMBER

17th 12pm - 3pm: H2H Open Apiary Hours at Bee Wise Farms 10192 State Highway M-28, Newberry, MI.