Train-the-Trainer

How to teach beekeeping…not what to teach

EAS Short Course

Tuesday, August 6, 2013; 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

As beekeeping has increased in popularity along with its positive public perception, the demand for beekeeper education—particularly at the beginner level—has never been greater.  One chokepoint in beekeeper education has been the small supply of good beekeeping teachers who can provide quality educational experiences.  

The goal of this program is to provide training in how to conduct an efficient bee school.  This will help improve content delivery, maximize student learning, and promote beekeeping. The intent of this workshop is to learn how to teach effectively, leaving it up to each individual instructor what to teach. In short, this workshop is not about what to teach, but how to teach it.

Lectures will include: the right mixture of theory and practice; what makes a bad presentation; teaching young beekeepers; using the BEES network in your bee school; crafting a test; and putting it all together.  

In the all-day training and workshops you will:

• Learn various tips and techniques about improving content delivery

• Gain experience in applying some of the more common techniques for teaching beekeeping

• Become confident in being able to develop a curriculum for beekeeper education at any level of expertise

• Discuss with other bee school instructors potential pitfalls in conducting a bee school and means by which they can be avoided or overcome

Preregistration is required for the limited number of seats. The workshop is comprehensive so that all participants are expected to remain through the entire day. Priority will be given to those who have or plan to conduct a beginner bee school so that we can learn from each other about what works, what doesn't, and what to expect from many different perspectives.

Feel free to bring along a syllabus to critique and discuss with others.

Instructors will be David R. Tarpy, Program Director & Extension Apiculturist, NC State; Bill Mares, EAS Education Committee Chairman; and others.

Bill Mares is the immediate past president of EAS and the Vermont Beekeepers Association. His organization and skill produced one of the finest and most well-attended conference in decades. Bill co-chairs the EAS Education Committee. Seek him out at EAS 2013 for his wit and pith.

David Tarpy hales from Pennsylvania, although he is now famous for his queen biology and other research at North Carolina State University. After building one of the largest and most successful state master beekeeper organizations, he has recently developed an online education platform called BEES. See David online or in person at EAS 2013.

Microscope Explorations

Come Explore with us.

WHAT IS IT?*  Please join us at the microscope "wet lab" during EAS 2013…

Your chance to see pollen, pathogens and parasites in real time - these are no mere images!  Learn to identity pollen, whether collected from your bees' knees or found in your honey.  Does this help identify what type of nectar sources your bees visited and therefore what type of honey is in the hive?  Diagnose common bacterial and viral infections peculiar to the honey bee.  Review the life cycle of their parasites to form the basis of your husbandry decisions.

This sticky board at 30X, was removed in December, after feeding syrup longer than commonly advised.  Consider the evidence: fresh, clean wax scales and mold filaments.  These may indicate young workers - and even brood - well into November, along with humid conditions, possibly created by the board impeding air flow and the water content of the syrup.  Don Coats, a member of the EAS 2013 Planning Committee, is developing this workshop and invites you to think about microscopic explorations in beekeeping.  Please reply to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your ideas and questions to explore at the microscope "wet lab"  in West Chester, PA.  August 5-9, 2013.

Microscopes kindly provided by Microscope.com

Short Course

In addition to the regular short course classes, two special elective classes have been added.

TopBar Hives (Monday):

The beeyard part of Top Bar Hives instruction is limited to 25 people. Please reserve your spot at registration.  Once the first session is full, we will offer afternoon sessions run by other beekeepers.

Train the Trainer (Tuesday):

The goal of this program is to provide training in how to conduct an efficient bee school.  This will help improve content delivery, maximize student learning, and promote beekeeping. The intent of this workshop is to learn how to teach effectively, leaving it up to each individual instructor what to teach. In short, this workshop is not about what to teach, but how to teach it.