EST. 2022

Bee Excellent.
Keep bees well.

A community of beekeepers from Nash, Edgecombe, Halifax, and surrounding counties — teaching new beekeepers, mentoring in the apiary, and keeping honey bees thriving in Eastern North Carolina.

2027 Beginner Beekeeper Course

Now enrolling

Ready to become a certified beekeeper? This class is led by certified beekeepers. Participants gain hands-on experience in honey bee biology, hive management, and sustainable beekeeping practices.

Course Dates

  • Jan 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2027
  • Saturdays, 10am–2pm
  • Plus mentoring in the apiary throughout the year

Cost — $70

  • Course materials
  • NC State Beekeepers Association membership
  • Club membership

Location

  • NC Wesleyan University
  • Dunn Center – Carlton Boardroom
  • 3400 N. Wesleyan Blvd
    Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Register now Questions? Reach us on Facebook.
Who we are

Beekeepers helping beekeepers

Bee Excellent Association was founded in 2022 to bring together beekeepers of every experience level from Nash, Edgecombe, Halifax, and surrounding counties. If you keep bees in Eastern North Carolina, you have a home here. Whether you're opening your first hive or your five-hundredth, you'll find practical teaching, honest mentoring, and a community that wants your bees to thrive.

Our beginner course pairs classroom instruction with real time in the apiary — because bees are the best teachers of all. Members stay connected all year through meetings, workshops, and hands-on hive days.

What we do

  • 🐝 Beginner beekeeper school each winter
  • 🍯 Year-round apiary mentoring
  • 📅 Club meetings — first Wednesday of each month, 6:00 PM, Shaw Learning Center at NC Wesleyan University
  • 🌻 Community outreach & pollinator education
  • 🤝 Connection to the NC State Beekeepers Association

Got a swarm? Don't spray — call a beekeeper.

A cluster of honey bees on a branch or fence is usually just resting while scouts look for a new home. Our members are happy to pick up swarms in Nash, Edgecombe, Halifax, and surrounding counties — safely, at no cost, and the bees get a good home. Outside our area? You can report a swarm statewide through the NCSBA.

Contact us about a swarm
Join us

Membership

New beekeepers join through the beginner course — your $70 course fee includes club membership and state membership for the year. Interested in joining otherwise? Just come to one of our monthly meetings — first Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM at the Shaw Learning Center — and we'll get you connected.

Learn together

Meetings, guest speakers, and skills workshops that follow the beekeeping season.

Mentoring in the apiary

Hands-on hive time with experienced beekeepers — the fastest way to grow in confidence.

NCSBA connection

Membership ties you into the NC State Beekeepers Association — the largest state beekeeping association in the country — including the Master Beekeeper Program.

Our signature rhythm

The Beekeeper's Year

Beekeeping in Eastern North Carolina moves with the seasons. Here's the shape of the year we teach — and live — as a club.

Jan – Mar

School & Setup

Bee school runs in January. Build and paint equipment, order bees, and feed colonies through the last cold snaps.

Apr – Jun

Swarms & Growth

The nectar flow arrives. Manage swarming, install new packages, and watch colonies boom.

Jul – Sep

Harvest & Health

Pull honey, then turn to mite monitoring and treatment — healthy fall bees make spring colonies.

Oct – Dec

Winter Prep

Feed, reduce entrances, and tuck the bees in. Reflect, plan, and get ready to welcome next year's students.

Keep learning

Beekeeping resources

NC State Beekeepers Association

Membership, statewide bee schools, the Master Beekeeper Program, and swarm reporting.

NC State Apiculture Program

Research and extension resources on honey bee health from NC State University.

NCDA&CS Apiary Services

State apiary inspection program, disease and pest control, and beekeeping regulations. Our region's apiary inspector covers Nash, Edgecombe, and Halifax counties.

Bee Excellent on Facebook

Club news, photos from the apiary, and event announcements.