Beekeeping Project Opportunity
The Kidwell Bee Wranglers are a 4H club that meets monthly, March to October. Basic beekeeping lessons are led by 4H leader and EAS-certified Master Beekeeper Ray Lackey. These lessons are beneficial to both those currently keeping honey bees and those who desire to do so. We have been meeting at Camp Kidwell (39000 1st Avenue, Bloomingdale MI 49026), on the border of Van Buren and Allegan counties and not far from Kalamazoo county) where Camp Kidwell’s bee yard is used as a demonstration yard. The Demonstration Bee Yard at Camp Kidwell is used as a teaching yard as the weather permits and will allow those not ready to start their own hives to gain experience working with bees and becoming familiar with equipment options.
Since Camp Kidwell is in the very south west of the county and draws from that area, it has been desired to start another club in the Northeast of the county. Thus, last year we started another club centered in Caledonia and servicing anyone in that area, including Kent, Barry and Ionia counties. For the time being, we will be meeting in a bee yard in Caledonia. This club will also be organized under Allegan County 4H but any 4-H’r can join in either club.
The joint Kidwell Bee Wranglers and Caledonia Bee Wranglers would like to invite any young person and especially 4Her in the area who is interested in starting a beekeeping project to an Introduction to Beekeeping class on Saturday March 9 at my residence on. This one-day crash course on beekeeping, from 8 AM to 5 PM, will cover the full year of beekeeping, options of equipment, and a range of startup costs for different levels of startup. Lunch (pizza) will be provided if you preregister with a head count (Donations accepted). Suggested age is 9 and up. Parents are welcome.
Planned Schedule for the two clubs:
- We are being organized as a SPIN Club, a resource to other clubs.
- Generally the first Saturday of the month.
- Meetings planned monthly on a Saturday (Subject to change due to weather, etc):
- These meetings are going to be interspersed with opportunities to visit my bee yard, opening hives and seeing queen rearing demonstrations. I will also be visiting the Camp Bee Yard about every two weeks at odd times that I will announce.
| Meeting Purpose | Caledonia Bee Wranglers, at 428 108th St SE, Caledonia unless otherwise noted, Date | Description |
| Novice Beekeeping Class | March 9, 2024, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM | Full day of presentations and demonstrations with lunch |
| Demo Equipment Build, Candle Dipping | April 6, 2024, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Hands on equipment building and wax candle dipping with lunch |
| Open hives, install nucs | May 4, 10 AM-12 Noon | In the bee yard, Must have veil! |
| Open hives, inspect, add boxes & supers, test mites | June 1, 10 AM-12 Noon | In the bee yard, Must have veil! |
| add supers, pollen trap, pull comb honey, test mites | July 13, 10 AM-12 Noon – NOT First Saturday | In the bee yard, Must have veil! |
| Pull Honey, test mites, Propolis Trap, Entrance Reducers | August 10, 2-4 PM | In the bee yard, Must have veil! |
| Extract Honey | TBD | Extract Honey, ?bottle, Label |
| Test and treat mites, winter prep | September 7, 10 AM-12 Noon | In the bee yard, Must have veil! |
| Recap, Presentations of projects & Candle Dipping | TBD | Joint meeting at 428 108th St SE, Caledonia |
Materials being used can be found at: https://www.tianca.com/kidwell-bee-wranglers/
For questions or more information, please contact Ray Lackey at lackeyray@tianca.com