Be a Beekeeper Class

Name: Be a Beekeeper Class
Start: 2026-06-20T09:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-06-20T10:30:00-05:00
Location: Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve

Schedule

Sat Jun 20 2026 at 09:00 am to 10:30 am

UTC-05:00

Location

Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve | Beecher, IL

***Please note that using this Facebook Event page to indicate you are going does not mean you are registered for the event. You must register by using the link or calling the number below.***
Be a Beekeeper with Dade Bradley, a beekeeper of seven years and a Will County resident, is intended to be a learning resource for both beginners and seasoned beekeepers alike. Participants will also have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working in local beehives (weather permitting). The instructor of this course is a chemical-free beekeeper, and coursework will reflect this.
The course sessions will include the following:
Week 1 will cover a brief history of beekeeping in America as well as some myths and misconceptions about managing honeybees. Topics will include backyard beekeeping, hive/colony losses and the modern challenges of keeping bees.
Week 2 will focus on the honeybee lifecycle, anatomy and colony structure, including a detailed description of its caste system of workers, drones and queens. The lesson will also include information on replacing, introducing and sourcing queens for your own hives.
Week 3 will discuss swarms and swarm management, including some tips on how to retrieve honeybee swarms as well as common pests/diseases that will be encountered in the hive. Professional resources, experience and advice regarding treatment-free beekeeping will be offered to the audience.
Week 4 will explain the different options for obtaining honeybees and how to install them as well as the recommended woodenware, equipment and tools required to keep bees. A basic overview of how to conduct hive inspections and general management will also be provided.
Week 5 will review hive products and how to harvest them ethically, including honey, pollen, propolis and beeswax. Colony removals, cut-outs and trap-outs as well as “natural” honeybee colonies will also be covered.
Week 6 will conclude the course with a review of year-round management, including supplemental feeding and winterizing hives. Even if participants decide not to pursue beekeeping by the end of the course, the instructor hopes to provide a basic understanding of honeybee hives; the bees’ relationship to each other and their relationship to us; and our impact on our shared environment and how it affects both them and ourselves.
Fee: $65 per person.
Age: Ages 18 and older.
Registration required by Friday, June 5, by calling 708-946-2216 or online: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/fpdwc/activity/search/detail/10078?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true
Note: The class will not meet on July 4.
The course cost is $65, and there is an optional fee of $40 that includes the course textbook “About Bees & Keeping Honeybees Without Treatments: For Folks Who Just Want to Keep Bees” by Arvin Pierce. Class participants can purchase on their own or at the time of registration.
Plum Creek Nature Center is an accessible facility. Outdoor activities may take place on natural surfaces across uneven terrain. Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service to participate in this program should submit a request online (https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/americans-with-disabilities-act-information/request-accommodation-inclusion-service/) no later than 48 hours before the program.
(Photo by Glenn P. Knoblock)