Learn beekeeping the right way!
This 2-day beginner beekeeping course in Cape Coral, Florida teaches you how to start, manage, and inspect honey bee colonies — with real, hands-on hive experience.
Participants will suit up and work inside active bee hive under the guidance of a University of Florida Advanced Master Beekeeper.
This is not just a classroom lecture. You will handle & build equipment, inspect a colony, and learn exactly what to look for inside a hive.
🐝 Limited seats available. Early registration recommended.
Same content as the Weekend Bootcamp, just spread out over 5 weeks to allow for summer's weather conditions
Class: Intro to Beekeeping | Become a Beekeeper Hands-On Series
Dates: Jan 17-18, Mar 14-15, May , Nov
Saturday — Classroom Training
Sunday — Hands-On Hive Workshop
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00/6:00 PM both days
Location:
GreenView Aquaponics Family Farm & Apiary
Classroom Training | Beekeeping Fundamentals
Learn the foundations needed to start and maintain a hive in Southwest Florida conditions.
Topics include:
How to get started
Cost and equipment basics
What to expect your first year
Langstroth hive components
Frames and foundation
Tools every beekeeper needs
Worker bees, drones, and queens
Comb structure and brood cycles
How colonies function
Hive inspections
Seasonal management
Local nectar flows and forage plants
Simulated Hive Splits
Simulated Swarm Control
Honey & Honey tasting (Florida's monoflorals)
Beeswax
Pollen
Propolis
When to harvest
How to extract honey properly
Varroa mites
Simulated Varroa Testing
Small hive beetles
Recognizing unhealthy colonies
Palmetto & Cabbage Palms
Brazilian Pepper & Acacia
Native wildflowers
In the Hive Training | Building Equipment
This is the portion most classes never offer.
Students will suit up and work live bee colony at teaching apiary.
You will learn by actually doing the work of a beekeeper.
How to properly suit up
Lighting and using a smoker
Over-the-shoulder guidance with an Advanced Master Beekeeper.
Inside the hive you will learn how to identify:
Eggs
Open brood
Capped brood
Brood patterns
Honey stores
Pollen stores
Common pests
Learn how to locate and recognize the queen bee inside a colony.
Build Your Own Hive
Students will build their own hive equipment on site.
Hands-on building includes:
Assembling Langstroth hive bodies
Building frames using professional jigs
Learning how to construct a frame-building jig for future use
Building bottom board
You leave knowing how to maintain and build your own equipment.
Each Full Registration Participant receives a Basic Beekeeping Starter Kit
10-Frame Langstroth Hive
Deep Hive Body
10 Frames with Foundation
Bottom Board
Migratory Top Board
Beekeeper Veil
Gloves
Smoker
Hive Tool
Lunch both days
Unlimited Bottled water both days
First Lessons in Beekeeping Book
Everything needed to begin beekeeping at home!
Students receive 1-year membership to:
Gulf Coast Beekeepers of Florida
Benefits include:
Local beekeeping mentorship
Monthly meetings in Lee or Charlotte counties
Networking with experienced beekeepers
Continued education opportunities
If you already own the equipment listed in the starter kit on the left, call us to ask about registering as an additional family member participant.
📞 239-six-nine-one-4489
Bees are NOT included
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services beekeeper registration is not included
Waiver required for the hands-on portion
Couples may qualify for equipment-sharing discounts
Additional protective gear and equipment available for purchase
Registration Deadline: Wednesday before class at 11:30 PM
Seats are limited due to the hands-on hive portion. Early registration is recommended.
Many beekeeping classes are lecture only.
This course provides:
✔ Real hive inspection
✔ Live bee handling
✔ Hands-on equipment building
✔ Florida-specific beekeeper training
✔ Instruction from Advanced Master Beekeeper
Trusted since 2017 — this hands-on beekeeping course has trained new beekeepers across Southwest Florida for years. You leave with knowledge, equipment, and real experience.
If you want to learn how to start beekeeping in Southwest Florida, this hands-on class gives you the practical experience needed to begin with confidence.
🐝 Limited seats available — secure your spot before registration closes.