Upcoming Events
Thursday, September 24th – Bees & Brews –
Join us for a fun evening together with other beekeepers! We’ll get together for a fun social evening with some time to just relax and talk bees.
Want to join the fun but beer is not your thing? That’s ok. They also offer a plethora of non-alcoholic beverages. We hope you can join us! Please do RSVP as we need to give the facility a rough head count. Wish there was a Bees & Brews event near you? We’d love your suggestions for a great future Bees & Brews location!
Tuesday, September 29th – Dr. Jordan Kueneman – Ground Nesting Bees
Ground nesting bees represent a significant portion of our native bee population, yet they often go unnoticed due to their solitary nature and unique nesting habits. Join us for our September meeting as we dive into the fascinating world of ground nesting bees.
Dr. Jordan Kueneman is a research associate at Cornell University, working in the Danforth Lab within the Department of Entomology. Dr. Kueneman has developed and runs Project GNBee, a research initiative dedicated to understanding why solitary ground-nesting bees form aggregations in specific locations, identifying the factors that determine their long-term success, and working to protect nesting aggregations where they occur.
Sunday, October 4 – Fall Microscopy Workshop –
Join us to learn about bees in a way most beekeepers rarely see! This introductory microscopy class will allow you:
- to learn how to properly set up and use a microscope
- to see bee anatomy up close
- a chance to dissect bees to see inner organs
- look at a queen’s spermatheca and see how well she was mated
- test for the presence of nosema in the colony
- look at the different structures of pollen
Please feel free to bring your own bees (in alcohol from one or more hives) or other things you may want to examine under the microscope (varroa mites, pollen, flowers, etc.)
Please note that registration is limited to 15 individuals. Please only register if you plan to attend to allow space for everyone to participate. Thank you!
Saturday, October 17th – Products of the Hive –
Discover the art and science of transforming your bees’ hard work into beautiful, useful creations! In this informative workshop, you’ll learn how to clean and render beeswax, then explore simple ways to turn it into candles, salves, lip balms, and other value-added products. Whether you’re looking to make thoughtful gifts, enhance your beekeeping income, or simply get more out of your hive, this class will guide you through each step with practical tips and demonstrations.
BYBA Board member, Panagiota Raguskus shares her expertise and top tips at this in-person workshop.
Please note: This workshop is an exclusive benefit for club members. This event is not open to the public. This a member’s only event. If your membership is not current, please renew your membership here or you can sign up for a new membership.
Tuesday, October 20 – New Bee Fundamentals/Special Topics – Please join us on the third Tuesday for a timely discussion and answers to your questions! Beginning and veteran beekeepers are encouraged to attend, learn, and share your wisdom.
This is a monthly Q & A session held virtually. Join us to ask your questions or just listen & learn! All experience levels welcome to join us for both sessions.
New Bee Fundamentals – 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Special Topics – 7:30 – 8:30 PM
Ground nesting bees represent a significant portion of our native bee population, yet they often go unnoticed due to their solitary nature and unique nesting habits. Join us for our September meeting as we dive into the fascinating world of ground nesting bees.
Dr. Jordan Kueneman is a research associate at Cornell University, working in the Danforth Lab within the Department of Entomology. He earned his Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he focused on conservation medicine and host-associated microbiomes under the mentorship of Dr. Valerie McKenzie.
Following his Ph.D., he spent four years in Panama at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, studying plant and animal microbiomes. During this time, he led a large-scale project investigating the microbiome of bees across different life-history strategies, seasonal patterns, and spatial distributions.
Most recently, Dr. Kueneman has developed and runs Project GNBee, a research initiative dedicated to understanding why solitary ground-nesting bees form aggregations in specific locations, identifying the factors that determine their long-term success, and working to protect nesting aggregations where they occur.
This meeting is free and open to the public.
Please note that our meeting is in person and our speaker will be joining us in person. Our presentation will begin at 7:30 but please join us by 7:00 to allow time for visiting with like-minded individuals.
The location is Norfield Congregational Church located at 64 Norfield Rd in Weston, CT. Even though the event is free and open to the public,
If you are unable to join us, club members will be able to view this and past monthly meeting recordings in the Members Only portion of the website under BYBA Presentations
Welcome to the Back Yard Beekeepers Association. With over 400 members, our association has grown to become one of the Nation’s largest regional clubs for beekeeping hobbyists. Some of our members are just getting started as beekeepers, and some have enjoyed this hobby for years. All share an interest in the wonderful and remarkable world of the honey bee.
The BYBA is a 501(c)3 non-profit, charitable organization.
Our general membership meetings are held on the last Tuesday of most months at 7:30 PM at the Norfield Church in Weston, CT.
Please see our Calendar of Events for details.
64 Norfield Rd
Weston, CT 06883
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