Beekeeping Project Opportunity
The 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.
The Caledonia Bee Wranglers meet at my home in Caledonia and welcomes anyone in that area, including Kent, Barry and Ionia counties. This club is also be organized under Allegan County 4H but any 4-H’r can join in either club. As I have my own apiary, this will allow those not ready to start their own hives to gain experience working with bees and becoming familiar with equipment options.
The joint Kidwell Bee Wranglers and Caledonia Bee Wranglers would like to invite any young person and especially 4-Her in the area who is interested in starting a beekeeping project to an Introduction to Beekeeping class on Saturday March 8 at my residence. 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. As some families may be concerned about what they are getting into and have a lot of questions, we have a quick introduction for the families on February 22 from 9-11 AM.
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.
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
Planned Schedule for the two clubs:
| Meeting Purpose | Kidwell Bee Wranglers, at camp | Caledonia Bee Wranglers, at 428 108th St SE, Caledonia | Description |
| Family Introduction to Beekeeping | February 22, 2023, 9-11 AM At Caledonia Location | February 22, 2023, 9-11 AM | Short presentation with questions and answers on what to expect in time, cost, and space |
| Novice Beekeeping Class | March 8, 2023, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM At Caledonia Location | March 8, 2023, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Full day of presentations and demonstrations |
| Open overwintered hives, | April 12, 2-4 PM | April 12, 9-11 AM | In the bee yard, Must have veil! |
| Open hives, inspect, add boxes & supers, test mites, install nucs | May 3, 2-4 PM | May 3, 9-11 AM | In the bee yard, Must have veil! |
| Open hives, inspect, add boxes & supers, test mites | June 7, 2-4 PM | June 7, 9-11 AM | In the bee yard, Must have veil! |
| add supers, pollen trap, pull comb honey, test mites | July 12, 2-4 PM | July 12, 9-11 AM | In the bee yard, Must have veil! |
| Pull Honey, test mites, Propolis Trap, Entrance Reducers | August 2, 2-4 PM | August 2, 9-11 AM | In the bee yard, Must have veil! |
| Test and treat mites, winter prep | September 6, 2-4 PM | September 6, 9-11 AM | In the bee yard, Must have veil! |
| Recap, Presentations of projects & Candle Dipping | October 21 , 2-5 PM | October 21 , 2-5 PM | Joint meeting at 428 108th St SE, Caledonia |