MILITARY Veterans' Bee School

The Central Ohio Beekeepers Charitable Foundation and OSU Extension Services 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 OSU Extension Services for Franklin County.
2. Classes will be followed by 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, veil, and gloves costing approx. $100).  Scholarships are available if needed.  
4. Hands-on sessions will continue from late April to late September 2023.

CLASS SCHEDULE & LOCATIONS 2023-2024

2023 Indoor Sessions: Saturdays, March 18 and 25; April 1 and 8, at the Kunz-Brundige OSU Franklin County Extension Building, 2548 Carmack Road, Columbus, Ohio.

2023 Outdoor Sessions: Saturday April 15 (weather-dependent) and most Wednesday evenings (6:00 – 8:00 p.m.) from mid-April through end of September, at the Ohio State University Apiaries, 2490 Carmack Rd., Columbus. 

The Wednesday outdoor sessions include hive inspections and  a potluck dinner.  Students and mentors collectively tend the hives.  Featured speakers and Q & A sessions are included.

Attendance: a minimum of 3 indoor sessions and 75% of outdoor sessions is required for satisfactory course completion.

Year Two

In April 2024, participants who successfully complete Year One will be given a hive, smoker, hive tool, and feeder. The hive includes a package of bees and woodenware (hives) to house them. This hive can be setup at the student’s site (apiary) or in an apiary maintained by COBA.

The student’s assigned mentor will help guide them, and the students are expected to continue joining the weekly apiary meetings.

How Much Does This Program Cost?

Students are required to purchase protective clothing (jacket, veil, and gloves costing approx. $100). Scholarships are available for protective clothing if needed.  Bees, woodenware, and equipment (valued at $800) will be provided free of charge to students who complete the first-year program. All class sessions are free.

How Do I Enroll?

Veterans’ Bee School participants will submit an application and an interview of selected candidates follows.  Class participants have been selected for the 2023-24 cohort. The class size is limited to 20 students.  We anticipate a 2024-25 cohort to be available.

If you want to be considered for the 2024-25 cohort, download a copy of the application found below. Submit the application by mail or email. Mail your paper application to Mike Hatter, 42 East Magnetic St., P.O. Box 12, Magnetic Springs, OH 43036 before February 14, 2024. Email your completed application as an email attachment or in the body of the email to  claudiakhoureybowers@gmail.com also by February 14, 2023.

How Do I Get More Information?

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