About Veterans' Beekeeping School

The Central Ohio Beekeepers Charitable Foundation and OSU Extension are hosting a program to help central Ohio veterans get up and running as beekeepers.

How Does it Work?

Year One

Students will receive a combination of classroom and hands-on training at no cost to them.

1. Four (4) in-person classes will be taught by experienced beekeepers from the Central Ohio Beekeepers Association (COBA) and will be held at the Kunz-Brundige OSU Franklin County Extension Building at the OSU Main Campus. 2027 Indoor Sessionswill be on Saturdays in late March and April from 9:30a to 12p.   Dates will be announced and posted here in early October 2026.

2. Classes will be followed by 25 (twenty-five) weekly, hands-on sessions in the apiary beeyard.  Instructors and mentors will assist students in learning how to become great beekeepers.

3. Students are required to purchase protective clothing (jacket with veil costing approx. $100).  Scholarships are available if needed. 

4. Hands-on sessions will continue from late April to late September 2026.

5. Required Attendance: a minimum of 3 indoor sessions and 18 outdoor sessions is required for satisfactory course completion.

CLASS LOCATIONS 2027-2028

2026 Indoor Sessions: Saturdays, in late March and early to mid-April from 9:30a to 12p at the Kunz-Brundige OSU Franklin County Extension Building, 2548 Carmack Road, Columbus, Ohio.

2027 Outdoor Sessions:  begin with bee package installation on Saturday April 17 at 1pm and run on mostly Wednesday evenings (6:00 – 8:00 p.m.) from April 21 through end of September, at the Ohio State University Apiary, 2490 Carmack Rd., Columbus. Once a month, these outdoor sessions are on Tuesday evening. Some sessions will be held at the Easton Apiary (weekends) and will be integrated into the required outdoor sessions.  Additional sessions will be made available at COBA's apiaries at Marysville, Franklin Park, Easton Town Center, and OSU Marion

The 25 outdoor sessions include group hive inspections and a potluck dinner (potluck at OSU First Year Bee Yard only). Students and mentors collectively tend the hives. Featured speakers and Q & A sessions are included.

Year Two.

In April 2028, participants who successfully complete Year One will be given a hive, smoker, hive tool, mite test kit, and feeder. The hive includes a package of bees and woodenware (hive bodies) to house them. This hive will be setup at the student’s site (apiary). The student’s assigned mentor will help guide them.   

Your responsibilities for Year 2 include: 1) attending bee yard sessions at least once per month; 

2) attending the first indoor class session with the incoming Cohort to establish a mentoring relationship with one of the new participants; and 3) help your mentee when they get their new hive in Spring 2028. 

How Much Does This Program Cost?

Students are required to purchase protective clothing (jacket with veil) costing approximately $100. Scholarships are available for protective clothing if needed. Bees, woodenware, and equipment will be provided free of charge to students who complete the first-year program. 

How Do I Apply?

To apply, submit an application online.   The application will be available here in mid-October 2026.  Deadline for applications is February 4, 2027.

Thirty (30) applicants will be chosen for an in-person interview to be held in February 2027. 

Eligibility Requirements

1. Honorable Discharge. Please bring your DD-214 to the interview.

2. Applicant must reside in the following Central Ohio counties; Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Hocking, Knox, Licking, Logan, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Perry, Pickaway, Ross, Union.

How Do I Get More Information?

For more information, contact Claudia Khourey-Bowers at 330 353-2315.