The Beekeepers Club Inc.

Beekeeping Mentoring Programme

This is a workshop/trainee programme on trial.

To learn about the basics of beekeeping, new beekeepers are advised to participate in our Beginners Course.

This could be compared with obtaining a Learners Permit for driving a vehicle on the road - you know in theory how it is done.

The reality test comes later on, with your own beehive in your backyard.

At the beginning it can be quite challenging for a new beekeeper to handle a beehive - not every possible situation can be discussed during the course - what to do?

To assist new beekeepers in this situation, more experienced and confident members of the club offer "Mentoring" to new beekeepers with hands-on assistance/training when necessary.

Likewise, a beekeeper who is not new to beekeeping could be facing a new challenge where assistance of a fellow beekeeper might be helpful.

The Beekeepers Club Mentoring Programme is aimed to assist all fellow club members when help or assistance is requested.

Such a mentoring programme could become quite overwhelming for those offering assistance - most club members have a regular job as well and everyone's time is limited.

To ensure that such a programme is sustainable we need to ensure that those offering help and assistance are not overburdened by requests.

Let's all help to work out a model that is sustainable.

Therefore, the following prerequisites need to be met and rules to be obeyed.

1. Only members of the club can participate in this programme.

2. New beekeepers can only participate in this programme after completion of a beekeeping course.

3. Assistance is prearranged and mutually agreed - like a workshop or trainee programme.

4. Add-hock phone calls for immediate assistance are not accepted - it's a mentoring programme, not a help line.

5. It is at the discretion of the mentor to limit the number of beekeepers providing assistance to.

6. It is at the discretion of the mentor to determine and limit the scope of assistance provided.

7. Requests for assistance on your own hives will only be accepted from beekeepers registered with the DPI.