2026 Heroes To Hives "Hands-On Training" Only

2026 Hands-On-Training will start in March and will continue through the spring, summer, fall and ends in October 2026.  These classes depending on which location you choose either at the Maple City VFW Post 2406 in Charlotte, MI or at the VFW National Home in Eaton Rapids, MI.  Below is the information for the 2 locations these classes will be conducted as follows:

DATE/Time/Month: 1st & 3rd Monday of each month starting in March from 6-9pm

Location: VFW National Home in Eaton Rapids, MI

Cost of course: $35.00 per class for a course total of $560.00 per student payable upon enrollment or monthly before class starts. Send Cash or check payable to Gary Brown at the address listed below

DATE/Time/Month: 1st  & 3rd Tuesday of each month starting in March from 6-9pm

Location: Maple City VFW Post 2406 in Charlotte, MI 

Cost of course: $35.00 per class for a course total of $560.00 per student payable upon enrollment or monthly before class starts.  Send Cash or check payable to Gary Brown at the address listed below.

Class size is 10 Students per training site and for State of (Lower) Michigan only! You and your assigned beekeeper will be assigned a LIVE honeybee hive and It will be up to each team to maintain this hive and feed/treat/inspect to include preparing your hives for winter. 

Upon sending me the required information listed below when you register....I will send you a confirmation email letting you know you have been selected per your site requested. You will then receive from me once a month a required reading block of learning and viewing material that you will need to complete before class starts each month begging in March - October.

Because we start classes in March....we will be learning how to bring our over wintered hives out of winter and get them ready for Spring.  You will be learning how to rotate your hive/feeding 1:1 syrup and feeding them pollen patties getting them built up for Summer.  

You will learn how to do Hive Splits and installing a NUC or Package bees. Because we will meet every 2 weeks, you will be doing hive inspections and logging all the hive data into your records.  You will do Mite inspections and Mite counts to manage Varroa growth for treating requirements. 

We will be placing honey boxes on our hives to let the bees store excess honey they produce for both Spring and Fall honey harvesting.  You will also learn how to apply for a Farm number if you want to become a farm....and much, much more! 

I am looking for student who want to learn beekeeping and will be at the class each month.  No DROPOUTS ALLOWED!  So, if you don't want to Learn how to become a beekeeper and don't have the desire it takes to become a beekeeper.... then this course is not for you!

Registration will begin on November 1st, 2025 - February 28th, 2026. or until both classes reach 10 students per site!

SO, if you would like to do the hands-on training with me either at the VFW National Home, OR the Maple City VFW Post 2406 in Charlotte, MI you can register for this Hands-On training by contacting me below:

   EMAIL ....... TO GET REGISTEDED AND THEN SEND PAYMNENT (SEE BELOW)

Gary Brown at:  garybrownsr@outlook.com please provide me with the following:

Name:

Address, City, State, Zip Code 

Phone Number:

Additional members in the family to take class*

* Must include complete information per member.

Best time to contact YOU!

            OR /AND

Please send your payment to Gary Brown AND all the above information listed above to 

10975 Irish Rd.

Vermontville, MI 49096

and include the class site you want to do your training once you get registered!!!

~ OR ~ Call me at 517-667-1189 (Mon - Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm) with any questions you might have!

THIS CLASS IS OPEN TO EVERYONE NOT JUST MILITARY VETERANS!

 THIS CLASS IS FOR DEDICATED BEEKEEPING STUDENTS ONLY!