Junior Beekeepers Club 2026
Description
This is a unique opportunity for aspiring beekeepers and nature enthusiasts. Participants will thrive by combining classroom learning with invaluable hands-on experience caring for a dedicated beehive with guidance from expert apiary mentors with 80+ years combined experience! This club is specialized for youth ages 12-18 years old who are interested in learning all about honeybees and the roles these pollinators play in our ecosystem. As with anything in nature, nothing exists in isolation, and this is a great opportunity to learn a key skill that is important for sustaining our food supply, and the habitat needed to sustain both honeybees and native bees.  Cost includes the use of Stratford’s equipment; veil, hive, bees, and all the tools needed to care for a dedicated honeybee hive.

When are the meetings?
Every Other Thursday | April 2 – September 3 + September 10
April 2. 16, 30 | 5:30pm - 7:30pm
May 14, 28 | 5:30pm - 7:30pm
June 11, 25 | 10:30am - 12:30pm
July 9, 23 | 10:30am - 12:30pm
August 6 | 10:30am - 12:30pm
August 20 | 5:30pm - 7:30pm
September 3, 10 | 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Additional Benefits
-Access to Stratford’s 236-acre learning laboratory
-Unique learning opportunity that combines classroom learning with invaluable hands-on experience.
-Safety and comfort of learning from expert apiary mentors with 80+ years combined experience
-Opportunity to build leadership skills

Requirements
- Register by April 15
- Enthusiasm to learn about the natural word and honeybees
- Attend as many meetings listed above as possible (we understand things come up - just let us know if you're unable to make it)
- Be prepared for the occasional bee sting

Weather
Caring for honeybees requires flexibility and can depend largely on the weather. During times when the weather is not ideal for getting into beehives, participants will work on alternate bee related activities indoors.

Cost
$65, includes the use of Stratford's equipment; veil, hive, bees, and all the tools needed to care for a dedicated honeybee hive.
Dates:
Every Other Thursday | April 2 - September 3 + September 10
Ages:
Ages 12 - 18
Cost:
$65.00
Availability:
This session has openings
Registration will end on 4/15/2026 at 9:00 AM.