A Hands-On Beginner Beekeeping Seminar — Pinellas Park Agriculture Farm & Mad Mike's Bees
📅 Sat, April 11, 2026🕒 8:00 AM – 12:00 PMFREE
Are You Ready to Meet 60,000 of Your New Neighbors?
This isn't a slide show. This isn't a YouTube video. This is the real thing — suited up, smoker lit, frames in your hands, bees buzzing all around you at a working Florida apiary.
We want this to be one of the most exciting and memorable outdoor experiences you've ever had. To make sure everyone has an amazing and safe time, we need you to review a few important things before you sign up. It only takes a minute — and it's how we keep the fun going for everyone.
📍 The seminar address will be provided once your registration has been approved.
⬇ Review and acknowledge each section below to unlock registration.
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You're going to be working with live bee colonies in an active apiary. Having the right gear isn't just a suggestion — it's how we keep you safe and having a great time. Every item below is required.
Hive tool in action!
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Bee suit or jacket with veil Full suit recommended. Jacket only: must wear long pants + half-calf socks.
MOST IMPORTANTLY — A Smile on Your Beautiful Face!The most important thing you'll bring
Bees experience the world through smell and sight. Some everyday items that seem harmless to us can actually stress or agitate a colony. Leaving these behind keeps everyone calm — the bees AND the beekeepers!
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Perfume, cologne, body spray, or scented lotions Strong scents attract and agitate bees — skip the fragrance for the day
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Scented hair products Hairspray, gel, or heavily fragranced shampoo
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Dark clothing under your suit Bees see dark colors as predators — wear light colors underneath
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Loose, flowing clothing Scarves, baggy sleeves — anything that creates gaps in your protection
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Pets We love animals, but the apiary is not the place — no exceptions
Some of the best beekeepers started young!
Children are absolutely welcome — as full participants!
We love seeing young people get excited about beekeeping. If your child wants to join, that's fantastic! They just need to be registered as a full participant with their own properly fitting bee suit, veil, gloves, and smoker. They'll follow all safety instructions, stay with the group, and participate in every module right alongside the adults.
A note about our wee little ones:
We're working with live bee colonies in an active apiary — this isn't a petting zoo! There's no childcare, no shaded play area, and no one available to supervise non-participating children. For everyone's safety, we can't accommodate infants, toddlers, or children who aren't registered, suited up, and ready to learn.
If your young beekeeper is old enough to follow instructions, wear the gear, and handle a smoker — we would love to have them. Some of the best beekeepers started young!
We want you to have an incredible time — and that means being upfront about what this experience involves.
Please read through these carefully so there are no surprises on the day.
🐝 Bee Sting Allergy
If you have a known allergy to bee stings — especially anaphylaxis or systemic reactions — this seminar is not appropriate for you. Please consult your physician before considering hands-on beekeeping.
If you carry a prescribed EpiPen and have been cleared by your doctor, you may attend at your own risk. Your EpiPen must be on your person (not in your vehicle) at all times.
☀️ Florida Heat
Let's be real — this is an outdoor seminar in Florida, and you'll be in a bee suit. There's no air conditioning in a bee yard! If you have heart conditions, respiratory issues, or anything that limits your heat tolerance — please talk to your doctor first.
We've built in water and shade breaks, but this is a physically active outdoor experience. Come prepared!
💪 Physical Activity
You should be comfortable:
• Standing on uneven ground for extended periods
• Lifting hive equipment (5–10 lbs per frame)
• Wearing a bee suit for up to 2 hours in warm weather
• Moving calmly and deliberately around the apiary
Here's What You'll Learn
Four hours that will change how you see the world in your backyard
🧥 How to properly suit up and seal your gear
🔥 Light a smoker, keep it lit, use it like a pro
🏠 Every component of a Langstroth bee hive
🔍 Read a frame of brood, pollen, and honey
🐝 Perform a live hive inspection — hands on!
⚖️ Florida beekeeping laws and registration
⚠️ Top mistakes new beekeepers make
📦 Take-home checklists, guides, and reference materials
By the end of the morning, you'll have the knowledge and confidence to set up your own hive in your Pinellas County backyard — legally, safely, and with a community of beekeepers behind you.
What to Expect
This is going to be one of the most memorable outdoor experiences you've ever had.
You're going to light your own smoker, crack open a hive humming with life, hold a frame covered in thousands of bees, and see the queen's eggs smaller than a grain of rice. You'll watch nurse bees feeding larvae, see pollen packed in every color of the rainbow, and smell warm beeswax and honey straight from the comb.
Most people walk away saying the same thing: “I had no idea it was like that.”
Brood, pollen, honey — you'll learn to read it all!
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About Your Instructor
Mike Dunleavy is a community beekeeper based in Pinellas County, Florida. He is not a salesman, not a celebrity beekeeper, and will not sell you anything. He is a grandfather, a father, a servant leader, and a person with a passion for keeping bees alive and thriving in Florida.
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Registration & Waiver Download
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You're All Set — Let's Do This!
Thank you for reviewing everything! Now register to reserve your spot and print your waiver to bring on the day.
📍 The seminar location address will be emailed to you once your registration has been approved.