Mentoring

​

          Many beginner beekeepers benefit from a having a local mentor. A number of experienced beekeepers from Chalfonts Beekeepers' Society have offered to be a mentor to new beekeepers. This page outlines what can and cannot be expected from a mentor relationship and obligations of the mentee. It also lists a number of members who have offered to become mentors.

​​

​

Role of the Mentor

​

Provide a source of expertise for the beginner beekeeper in their 1st year of beekeeping, so as to encourage the beekeeper to adopt standard, as taught by CBS beginners course and referenced in the Haynes manual, practice and learning activities. To ensure the safety of the beginner, the public and bees.

​

Key responsibilities:

• Advise on apiary site

• Ensure beginner has proper and sufficient kit before bees arrive

• Help with tasks beginner may be unsure of: eg queen marking, looking for eggs and brood patterns and sensible supering

• Advise on use of hive tool, smoker, moving frames, identifying brood in all stages, IPM disease identification and the importance of good apiary hygiene

• Be available for questions and give advice by phone and by e-mail

• Prompt the beginner at key stages in the beekeeping year and to practice at club apiary and ongoing education

• Encourage and guide the mentee to take the BBKA Basic Assessment Exam.

​

​

Role of the Mentee

​

Willing to receive and act on advice given.   

To actively seek to learn from books, the internet, meetings and shows, as appropriate.   

To take ownership and responsibility for their own development.

​

Key responsibilities:

• Be willing to ‘have a go’. Knowledge comes from experience and experience comes from working through issues and learning from mistakes

• Respect the mentors’ time constraints; use phone or meet and use e-mail regularly

• A mentor is available for general initial support and then as a backup. Try to work out the problem first: consult a recommended textbook, resort to mentor as final step

• Remember that bees do not all perform exactly the same way (similar to all other species) although they all maintain similar characteristics

• Proactively look for a bee buddy within the club, join an informal group of beekeepers

• Read and understand the Club Apiary rules and adhere to them faithfully at all times

• Please remember that the mentor is there to guide you in beekeeping. 

 

       Remember that mentors are not there to look after your bees!​