Indoor Teaching

By Roger Patterson

Some BKAs call indoor sessions “classroom teaching”, but this can give the impression of formal schooling, which may discourage members. “Indoor teaching” is a better description, covering a wide range of formats, venues and learner needs.

Regular winter meetings are an important part of BKA life, helping maintain interest during the inactive season. Topics should be useful and relevant, with occasional unrelated but interesting talks—just don’t overdo those, or you risk losing members. One now-defunct BKA near me had, as its final two meetings, talks on badgers and a trip to a lifeboat station. Both may have been interesting, but they didn’t develop beekeeping knowledge.

Monthly meetings usually cater for all members, making it difficult to suit every ability level. Experienced beekeepers may feel they’ve heard it all before, while beginners may feel overwhelmed. If the BKA is large enough, consider separate groups based on ability. Smaller groups often allow better discussion and participation.

Specialist Subjects

Specialist topics such as microscopy or candle-making may be taught in homes or small venues. These may require funding, and equipment such as microscopes must be stored safely and cared for. Expect small attendance, but specialist knowledge gained by a few can benefit many.

Early-Years Beekeepers

Sessions aimed at early-years beekeepers may include topics such as:

  • Equipment for your second year
  • Making simple increase
  • Swarming: what is happening in the colony, prevention and control
  • Record keeping and refining last year's system
  • Supering and management of supers/combs
  • Disease recognition, especially foul brood
  • Simple queen rearing
  • How to cage a queen
  • Harvesting honey
  • Caring for equipment

Other useful topics—covered briefly unless the group is strong—may include:

  • The role of pheromones
  • Insurance information
  • Bee inspectors and contact details
  • Saving beeswax and wax exchange
  • Water content of honey and refractometer use
  • Life cycles
  • Robbing and how to avoid it
  • Principles of swarm control
  • The annual colony cycle
  • Locally adapted bees and their benefits
  • Nutrition and effects of poor nutrition
  • Basic anatomy, perhaps with microscope slides
These topics can be reused yearly. Some can be taught by newer beekeepers, reducing the burden on regular teachers.

It is vital that indoor teaching reinforces what members will hear outdoors. Conflicting messages lead to confusion and poor practice.

Teachers and Demonstrators

Teachers from other divisions or branches can add variety. If external speakers are unavailable, good videos can also be used—these have the advantage of being paused for discussion.