Step 1: Recruit collaborators

  • If you are a regional specialist, find stakeholders from a conservation or beekeeper group to collaborate on the training.
  • If you are part of a stakeholder group, recruit an extension regional specialist to organize the effort.

Step 2: Obtain approval

  • Receive formal approval to support the training from the stakeholders at a board or general membership meeting.
    • Stakeholders are responsible for assisting extension with the following tasks:
      • Organizing the training and identifying qualified presenters;
      • Recruiting participants through marketing and promotion of the program; and
      • Encouraging participants to contribute to volunteer opportunities.

Step 3: Garner council support

  • Request support from the county extension council.
    • The extension center will handle all account receivables and payables.

Note: Extension and the stakeholder group should review the distribution of registration revenues.
See the operational guidelines (PDF) for complete details.

  • The statewide fee of $25 is remitted to extension to support overall program costs.
  • A monetary amount at a level similar to, but not to exceed, the statewide fee should be donated to the stakeholder group.
  • A county extension center fee covers costs associated with printing publications, presenter travel and stipends, room rental costs, personnel and a donation to the stakeholder group.
  • The program cost is $100.
    • State fee = $25
      Stakeholder group donation = $25
      County extension fee = $50
      Total cost = $100.

Planning guidelines

  1. Locate a suitable site or sites for the training.
  2. Determine the dates and times for offering the training.

Note: This training includes hands-on activities — some of which will be held outdoors —such as a tour of an active commercial honeybee operation. Therefore, consider the time of year and time of day when scheduling.

  1. The training should be taught in six sessions.
  2. Each class should last three hours. The minimum time for each class is two hours, but an extra hour is encouraged to ensure adequate participation for the hands-on activities.
  1. Establish the program fee.
  2. Find a qualified instructor for each class. (See the operation guidelines for complete details.)

Marketing and promotion guidelines

When promoting this program, emphasize the importance of pollinators and the decline in their population. The class could be confused with the Beginning Beekeeping program.

This is a new curriculum so potential target audiences include experienced beekeepers, gardeners and farmers who are concerned about the pollinator habitat. 

  • This training is approved for adults. Minors should be under the supervision of an adult participant. (See the operation guidelines for complete details.)
  • MU Extension Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists may be interested in the program. This curriculum is considered advanced training for these groups.
  • The stakeholders should promote the program to current or prospective beekeepers and conservation groups. For example, there is an active effort to conserve monarch butterflies through Missourians for Monarchs program. This curriculum includes information on these pollinators.