2026 BeekeepIng MentorshIp Program
Deepen your understanding of honey bees and build your confidence through practical bee-centric lessons in this 9 month online and in-person program.
LIve-TAUGHT Classes
No pre-recorded classes! Every session is taught live on Zoom for maximum connection and community building. But don’t worry, classes are recorded for those who cannot attend live.
MONTHLY OFFICE HOURS
A place for deeper questions, troubleshooting, camaraderie and more. Share your experiences, learn from others mistakes and get specific guidance every month.
REaDING & QUIZZES
Lessons are reinforced with reading and quizzes that keep you on track throughout the year. Plus, you’ll take on a special project that puts what you’ve learned into practice.
IN-PERSON SESSIONS
Although classes are online, those near San Diego will have the chance to get hands-on with scheduled experience days and shadowing opportunities throughout the year.
Led by Girl Next Door Honey founder Hilary Kearney. Hilary is a Cornell Master Beekeeper with 16 years of beekeeping experience and she is the author of three books. She blends science with intuition and delivers practical lessons with humor and fun.
“I believe the best beekeepers are the ones who understad how honey bees live without a beekeeper.”
Who Is the MentorshIp for?
The in-depth course work is perfect for intermediate level beekeepers, but dedicated first year beekeepers are also welcome!
If you plan to get bees this year. This program will help you build a strong foundation and guide your through the beekeeping season as it unfolds.
If you are in your first 5 years of beekeeping and want to better understand your bees, learn new skills and fill in knowledge gaps? This program is for you!
What You’ll GAIN
PractIcal SkILLS
Bee BIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
ConfIDENCE & INTUITION
COMMUNITY & SUPPORT
SAN DIEGO MENTORSHIP
If you are near San Diego, California you can apply for the full mentorship which includes hands-on experience days and shadowing opportunities throughout the year!
What’s included?
12 live zoom classes
8 office hours sessions
Reading & Quizzes
4 in-person experience days
10 months of shadowing opportunities
The option to adopt rescue colonies
ONLINE ONLY
Not local? Don’t worry, the online mentorship can be taken from anywhere! We meet online for all the live zoom classes and monthly office hours.
What’s included?
12 live zoom classes
8 office hours sessions
Email and Phone support
Reading & Quizzes
*If you are willing to travel, you may choose to attend one of any of the 4 in-person experience days in San Diego.
SPOTS ARE LIMITED!
If you are interested in joining the San Diego mentorship, don’t wait. Reserve your spot now. Only 16 people will be accepted into the program due to the hands-on nature of it.
*APPLICATION PERIOD HAS ENDED*
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
We are offering a limited number of low-cost scholarships for the San Diego Mentorship Program. If you would like to apply, please fill out the form using the button below. The scholarships are meant for students who cannot otherwise afford the program. Priority will be given to people who are under 25 and those who identify as BIOPIC or LGBTQI.
TESTIMONIALS
This mentorship was a game changer for my first year of beekeeping. The program is organized in a way that you get the information as you need it depending on the time of year, which makes the loads of material more easily digestible. Since it’s a group mentorship, you also communicate with others enrolled. Hearing about several different experiences is very valuable. I don’t think books alone would have gotten me through my first year successfully.
As a newish beekeeper (not quite one year), I was so delighted to be accepted into Hilary’s mentorship. I have joined a lot of groups including four different associations both local and out of state. I also read a lot about bees and beekeeping online and my ever growing collection of bee books. Nothing has proven to be as informative and helpful as Hilary’s mentorship. Her approach to teaching beekeeping is organized, thorough, and detailed. I learned facts about bees and approaches to beekeeping that I had never come across before.
I had the pleasure being apart of Hilary’s 2024 beekeeping mentorship and it was one of the best experiences I’ve had. I’ve always been fascinated by bees, and this program gave me everything I was looking for—and more. Hilary is a true beekeeping guru. The course was super well-organized, creative, and easy to follow — she also has a great sense of humor. I loved that I could revisit the recordings anytime if I missed a session. I took both the online class and the in-person mentorship, and honestly, it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.
*Please note that we will do our very best to keep these scheduled dates, but there may be some resheduled dates due to unforseen circumstances like weather, illness or unexpected travel.
Watch A prevIew of the classes
HOW DOES SHADOWING WORK?
All shadowing opportunities will take place in San Diego County and will happen mostly on week days M-TH between 9AM-2PM. They will consist of activities like hive inspections, honey harvests, requeening, bee rescues, moving hives, building equipment… Basically, whatever Hilary is doing that day!
If you join the San Diego Mentorship you will be added to a private group in the GroupMe app. Hilary will post opportunities there as they come up. Sometimes they are planned out a week or a few days ahead of time, other times they will be more last minute. Often Hilary will only be able to bring 2-4 people with her for each opportunity so it will be first come, first serve, but priority will be given to those who have not had the opportunity to attend in the past.
Hilary usually has at least one opportunity per week, but things like weather and time of year, and instances of her being out of town can affect that. The shadowing opportunities will officially start in February and end in October so you have plenty of time to join in!
Buzzing with Questions? Contact us!
Call or Text 619-921-8189 (text preferred) Email admin@girlnextdoorhoney.com