Youth Beekeeping Workshop

CBA offers kid-centered workshops at the Bee Yard during the Summer, designed for ages 6-13. This is a great opportunity for kids to learn more about beekeeping and get a chance to work with hives at our bee yard. Everything during these workshops will be geared toward kids, from the presentation to the hands-on activities to Q&A. This is not a drop-off program; kids need to be accompanied & supervised by a responsible adult. All participants and supervising adults are required to wear protective equipment.

Adult Supervision

All participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible supervising adult at all times, and cannot attend Bee Yard activities or events alone.

Safety & Attire

All participants at CBA bee yard activities or any other CBA-sponsored event involving live bees must be properly dressed and wear personal protective equipment designed specifically for beekeeping. Personal protection equipment and proper dress includes, but is not limited to, complete coverage of bare skin with light-colored clothing - do not wear black. All participants must wear a proper bee veil or bee suit and closed-toed shoes at all times. Bees sting and inject venom, so if you are concerned about your reaction, please consult a physician before attending.

Led by Tim & Mike:

Tim Dutcher is the lead beekeeping instructor for Huneebee Project, a non-profit based in New Haven that connects youth to their environment through beekeeping. He began working with bees in the summer of 1999, and from the moment he first stepped into a bee yard, he could feel the buzz of the bees all the way into his bones and knew that beekeeping was for him. In his work as an environmental educator, Tim has introduced thousands of young people to the magic of beekeeping, through workshops, school visits, and most importantly, opening hives with them!  Tim loves answering any and all questions about bees, and has had children as young as four help him at the hives.

Mike Thomas is a hobbyist beekeeper, executive director of R&D/Engineering for a local medical device company, and active leader in BSA scouting in his hometown of West Hartford.  His affection for all pollinators - especially honeybees - comes from growing up on a family farm in western Massachusetts.  After many years of attending country fairs and seeing many observation hives, he finally took the plunge into beekeeping in the spring 2021 and has never looked back.  His beekeeping educates his family, friends, and coworkers on the importance of pollinators and having them join in hive inspections and apiary visits.  He has been in scouting leadership for the past 14 years, where he enjoys mentoring and guiding boys and girls ranging in ages of 5 to 18 in various scouting activities preparing them as future leaders.  Michael loves spending time with family, friends, and being outdoors.