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Upcoming events

    • 12 Dec 2023
    • 7:00 PM
    • Zoom Meeting
    Register

    MCBA members are invited to join our Board Meetings. Registration opens 2 weeks prior to the meeting and closes 2 days prior.

    Once registered you will get an email 2 days prior with the link to the zoom meeting. 

    • 25 Jan 2024
    • 7:00 PM
    • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

     All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

    Mini Presentation:


    Main Topic:

    Kaira Wagoner - Hygienic Behavior - A Sustainable Solution to the Honey bee Health Crisis

    Kaira Wagoner is graduate of Guilford College, earned her masters and doctorate degrees from the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG), and served five years as a post-doctoral fellow in the UNCG social insect lab. Dr. Wagoner currently serves as a Research Scientist, splitting her time between UNCG and Optera, a Greensboro-based start-up focused on improving honey bee health that was co-founded by Dr. Wagoner in 2020. Dr. Wagoner’s research focuses on honey bee pests and diseases, particularly as they relate to the immune mechanism hygienic behavior, the ability of adult honey bees to detect and remove unhealthy brood from the hive. Dr. Wagoner is currently using natural honey bee stress signals to develop UBeeO, a pheromone-based tool to facilitate apiary management and improve selection of disease and pest-resistant honey bees. When not in the lab or apiary, Dr. Wagoner enjoys traveling, playing games, and spending time in the great outdoors with her husband and three nature-loving boys


    • 20 Feb 2024
    • 6:00 PM
    • Montgomery County 4-H Center

    Registration details click here!

    Class #1

    • Welcome to Beekeeping - Sign-in and introductions
    • Why be a beekeeper
    • Considerations before starting
    • Choosing a site for your apiary
    • Hive components
    • Inside the hive - frames and foundation
    • Optional hive pieces
    • One hive or two
    • What to consider when buying
    • Protecting the woodenware
    • Protective clothing and tools
    • Purchasing bees - packages and nucs
    • The bees
    • How the colony works
    • Basic bee anatomy
    • Social structure of the colony


    • 22 Feb 2024
    • 7:00 PM
    • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

     All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

    Mini Presentation:


    Main Topic:



    • 19 Mar 2024
    • 6:00 PM
    • Montgomery County 4-H Center

    Class #

    • Setting up the hive(s)
    • Foraging
    • Using your smoker
    • Preparing for package / nuc installation
    • Installing package / nuc
    • Sudden cold spells in spring - what to do
    • Placing the entrance reducer and inner cover
    • Feeding sugar syrup and pollen
    • Honeybee life cycle
    • MITES - MITES - MITES
    • Apiary registration


    • 28 Mar 2024
    • 7:00 PM
    • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

     All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

    Mini Presentation:


    Main Topic:



    • 16 Apr 2024
    • 6:00 PM
    • Montgomery County 4-H Center

    Class #3 - Weather permitting we'll spend the first hour in the apiary

      • Hive inspection - observations during inspections
      • Swarming
      • Observing bee behaviors
      • Pheromones - honeybee communication
      • Roles and responsibilities of the colony


        • 25 Apr 2024
        • 7:00 PM
        • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

         All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

        Mini Presentation:


        Main Topic:



        • 21 May 2024
        • 6:00 PM
        • Montgomery County 4-H Center

        Class #4 - Weather permitting we'll spend the first hour in the apiary

          • Adding boxes
          • Bee brood diseases
          • Adult bee diseases
          • When to add a honey super
          • Bee parasites
          • IPM - Integrated Pest Management
          • Pests in the hive
          • Pest outside the hive


            • 23 May 2024
            • 7:00 PM
            • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

             All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

            Mini Presentation:


            Main Topic:



            • 18 Jun 2024
            • 6:00 PM
            • Montgomery County 4-H Center

            Class #5 - Weather permitting we'll spend the first hour in the apiary

              • Queen issues
              • Pesticide exposure to bees
              • Honey production and extraction
              • What is a nectar dearth
              • Robbing behavior in honeybees


                • 27 Jun 2024
                • 7:00 PM
                • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

                 All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

                Mini Presentation:


                Main Topic:



                • 16 Jul 2024
                • 6:00 PM
                • Montgomery County 4-H Center

                Class #6 - Weather permitting we'll spend the first hour in the apiary

                Please note the change in date due to the holiday for this month

                • Honey extraction - hands on extracting from our club apiary



                    • 20 Aug 2024
                    • 6:00 PM
                    • Montgomery County 4-H Center

                    Class #7 - Weather permitting we'll spend the first hour in the apiary

                      • Yellow jacket and wasp invading the hives
                      • Winter bees
                      • Varroa mites and winter bees
                      • Weak or failing queen
                      • Merging weak hives before winter
                      • Supplemental feeding



                        • 22 Aug 2024
                        • 7:00 PM
                        • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

                         All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

                        Mini Presentation:


                        Main Topic:



                        • 17 Sep 2024
                        • 6:00 PM
                        • Montgomery County 4-H Center

                        Class #8 - Weather permitting we'll spend the first hour in the apiary

                        • Winter prep
                        • Feeding bees in winter
                        • The winter cluster
                        • Dead bees in winter
                        • Mite counts and treatments
                        • Getting ready for spring



                            • 26 Sep 2024
                            • 7:00 PM
                            • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

                             All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

                            Mini Presentation:


                            Main Topic:



                            • 24 Oct 2024
                            • 7:00 PM
                            • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

                             All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

                            Mini Presentation:


                            Main Topic:



                          Past events

                          14 Nov 2023 MCBA Board Meeting
                          11 Nov 2023 MCBA 2023 Fall Banquet
                          26 Oct 2023 General Meeting
                          14 Oct 2023 MCBA General Members Wax Dipping
                          10 Oct 2023 MCBA Board Meeting
                          28 Sep 2023 General Meeting
                          12 Sep 2023 MCBA Board Meeting
                          5 Sep 2023 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #8
                          24 Aug 2023 General Meeting
                          8 Aug 2023 MCBA Board Meeting
                          1 Aug 2023 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #7
                          29 Jul 2023 Annual Picnic
                          18 Jul 2023 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #6
                          11 Jul 2023 MCBA Board Meeting
                          22 Jun 2023 General Meeting
                          20 Jun 2023 Queen Basics/Rearing (not Queen Grafting)
                          13 Jun 2023 MCBA Board Meeting
                          6 Jun 2023 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #5
                          25 May 2023 General Meeting
                          18 May 2023 All About Nucs- CANCELLED DUE TO LOW ENROLLMENT
                          9 May 2023 MCBA Board Meeting
                          2 May 2023 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #4
                          27 Apr 2023 General Meeting
                          13 Apr 2023 2023 Queen Rearing and cell grafting class
                          11 Apr 2023 MCBA Board Meeting
                          4 Apr 2023 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #3
                          3 Apr 2023 SWARM management (and how it ties closely with SPRING Management)
                          23 Mar 2023 General Meeting
                          14 Mar 2023 MCBA Board Meeting
                          11 Mar 2023 MCBA General Members Wax Dipping
                          7 Mar 2023 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #2
                          2 Mar 2023 SPRING management (and how it ties closely with SWARM Management)
                          23 Feb 2023 General Meeting
                          13 Feb 2023 MCBA Board Meeting
                          7 Feb 2023 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #1
                          26 Jan 2023 General Meeting
                          10 Jan 2023 MCBA Board Meeting
                          13 Dec 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          12 Nov 2022 MCBA 2022 Fall Banquet
                          8 Nov 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          27 Oct 2022 General Meeting
                          11 Oct 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          8 Oct 2022 MCBA Members Wax Dipping
                          28 Sep 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #8
                          22 Sep 2022 General Meeting
                          20 Sep 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #8
                          13 Sep 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          25 Aug 2022 General Meeting
                          24 Aug 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #7
                          16 Aug 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #7
                          9 Aug 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          30 Jul 2022 Annual Picnic
                          27 Jul 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #6
                          19 Jul 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #6
                          12 Jul 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          23 Jun 2022 General Meeting
                          22 Jun 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #5
                          21 Jun 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #5
                          14 Jun 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          26 May 2022 General Meeting
                          25 May 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #4
                          17 May 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #4
                          10 May 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          28 Apr 2022 General Meeting
                          27 Apr 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #3
                          19 Apr 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #3
                          14 Apr 2022 Queen Rearing and cell grafting class
                          12 Apr 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          2 Apr 2022 MCBA Members Wax Dipping
                          26 Mar 2022 MCBA Beginer Class Wax Dipping
                          24 Mar 2022 General Meeting
                          23 Mar 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #2
                          22 Mar 2022 Gamma Irradiation Program
                          15 Mar 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #2
                          8 Mar 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          24 Feb 2022 General Meeting
                          23 Feb 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #1
                          15 Feb 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #1
                          8 Feb 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          27 Jan 2022 General Meeting
                          14 Dec 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          13 Nov 2021 MCBA 2021 Fall Banquet
                          9 Nov 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          28 Oct 2021 General Meeting
                          16 Oct 2021 Wax Dipping Event
                          12 Oct 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          23 Sep 2021 General Meeting
                          22 Sep 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #8
                          21 Sep 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #8
                          14 Sep 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          26 Aug 2021 General Meeting
                          25 Aug 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #7
                          17 Aug 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #7
                          10 Aug 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          28 Jul 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #6
                          20 Jul 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #6
                          13 Jul 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          24 Jun 2021 General Meeting
                          23 Jun 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #5
                          22 Jun 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #5 - rescheduled to following week (6/22)
                          8 Jun 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          27 May 2021 General Meeting
                          26 May 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #4
                          18 May 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #4
                          11 May 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          1 May 2021 Package Pickup at Worcester Honey Farms
                          28 Apr 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #3
                          22 Apr 2021 General Meeting
                          20 Apr 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #3
                          13 Apr 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          3 Apr 2021 Package Pickup at Worcester Honey Farms
                          3 Apr 2021 Making Hives and Splits
                          27 Mar 2021 1st yr Class Wax Dipping
                          25 Mar 2021 General Meeting
                          24 Mar 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #2
                          20 Mar 2021 Wax Dipping Event
                          16 Mar 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #2
                          9 Mar 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          25 Feb 2021 General Meeting
                          24 Feb 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #1
                          16 Feb 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #1
                          9 Feb 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          28 Jan 2021 General Meeting
                          12 Jan 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          8 Dec 2020 MCBA Board Meeting
                          10 Nov 2020 MCBA Board Meeting
                          22 Oct 2020 General Meeting
                          13 Oct 2020 MCBA Board Meeting
                          24 Sep 2020 General Meeting
                          23 Sep 2020 Intermediate Beekeeping Class
                          15 Sep 2020 New Beekeepers' Class
                          27 Aug 2020 General Meeting
                          26 Aug 2020 Intermediate Beekeeping Class
                          22 Aug 2020 Saturday Morning Bee Conversation
                          18 Aug 2020 New Beekeepers' Class
                          11 Aug 2020 MCBA Board Meeting
                          22 Jul 2020 Intermediate Beekeeping Class
                          21 Jul 2020 New Beekeepers' Class
                          14 Jul 2020 MCBA Board Meeting
                          12 May 2020 MCBA Board Meeting

                          About MCBAPA

                          Serving Montgomery, Bucks and surrounding counties in Pennsylvania, the MCBAPA is an association of hobbyist and professional beekeepers. Our mission is to provide education, hands-on training, support and fellowship in all aspects of beekeeping. Both experienced beekeepers and novices participate in our monthly meetings, field trips and social events.

                          Our meetings are held at:

                          Montgomery County 4-H Center
                          1015 Bridge Road (Route 113)
                          Skippack, PA 19426

                          General membership meetings are usually held the 4th Thursday of the month at 7 pm, but please check our calendar.

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