Central Oregon Beekeeping Association upcoming events

June COBKA Meeting - The Art of Mite War, Part II (16 Jun 2026)

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:30:00 GMT

COBKA June Meeting

Making Sense of the 'When (August 1st!), & How' of Varroa Mite treatment options

Join Heike Williams in this hands-on session that includes her top picks for August Varroa Control Treatments. Critical for your hive's winter survival!

5:00 PM – Beginner’s Corner

*5:30 PM - Intermediate/Expert Q&A

6:15 PM – Presentations

DOWNTOWN BEND LOCATION:

469 NW Wall St, Bend, OR 97703

Google Map Parking is abundant in the area, but please check signage as some spaces may be time-limited or permit-restricted.

Note on Remote Access:

COBKA meetings and events may include a video stream or recording option when volunteer support and event conditions allow. You will need to be signed in as a COBKA member to join the video stream or access recordings.

COBKA Meetings Online

The Beginner’s Corner portion of the meeting is not typically streamed. Depending on the meeting format, the stream may be provided through a mobile phone, camera, or another available setup.

Because our meetings and video streams are managed by volunteers, availability and broadcast quality may vary, especially for hands-on demonstrations, station-based presentations, outdoor events, or locations with limited internet access. In some cases, a live option may not be available.

Members interested in helping with meeting support, video streaming, setup, or other volunteer roles can learn more here: https://cobeekeeping.wildapricot.org/volunteers

DRONE FEST Field Day at Oregon State University (20 Jun 2026)

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT

DRONE FEST Field Day at Oregon State University

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026

Location: OSU Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture, Corvallis, Oregon

Registration: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/mb/2026-drone-fest-field-day-osu

The Oregon Master Beekeeper Program invites beekeepers of all experience levels to attend DRONE FEST, a hands-on field day focused on one of the hive's most overlooked and fascinating members—the drone honey bee.

This special event features Julia Mahood, Georgia Master Crafts Beekeeper, drone researcher, creator of the citizen science project Map My DCA, President of the Georgia Beekeepers Association, and the 2018 Georgia Beekeeper of the Year.

Participants will rotate through a variety of interactive learning stations, including:

Drone frame demonstrations in live colonies
Brood health and Varroa assessment
Drone marking (practice before marking queens)
Building a swarm lure to take home
Preparing a drone frame for your own apiary
Blind honey tasting hosted by OMB Master student Diana Dickinson as part of her research on how extraction methods influence honey flavor

The day concludes with a special Drone Fest finale. Lunch is included.

This event is open to everyone. Participation in the Oregon Master Beekeeper Program is not required.

Whether you are a new beekeeper looking to build practical skills or an experienced beekeeper interested in drone biology, breeding, and colony health, this promises to be an informative and enjoyable day.

Space is limited. Advance registration is required.

https://extension.oregonstate.edu/mb/2026-drone-fest-field-day-osu

COBKA Bees & Brews (02 Jul 2026)

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:30:00 GMT

COBKA BEES & BREWS

Bees & Brews is a casual monthly gathering for beekeepers of all experience levels. No agenda, no presentations...just an informal chance to connect with fellow beekeepers, swap stories, ask questions.

Whether you're a seasoned beekeeper or just getting started, you'll find good conversation and a welcoming crowd.

WHEN & WHERE

First Thursday of each month

5:30 pm Crux Fermentation Project

50 SW Division St, Bend, OR 97702

July COBKA Meeting - The Art of Mite War, Part III (21 Jul 2026)

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:30:00 GMT

COBKA July Meeting

Honey Bee Health Coalition (new edition), and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Presenters Tim Rubin and Muffy Roy love the Honey Bee Health Coalition's 'Tools for Varroa Management'. The 9th edition is making its landing at this meeting. Join us for an update on significant changes in the guide and a discussion and play on Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Important to remember beekeeping is about chemicals PLUS other mechanical and cultural strategies for controlling the beast we know as the Varroa Mite!

5:00 PM - Beginner’s Corner

*5:30 PM - Intermediate/Expert Q&A

6:15 PM - Presentations

DOWNTOWN BEND LOCATION:

469 NW Wall St, Bend, OR 97703

Google Map Parking is abundant in the area, but please check signage as some spaces may be time-limited or permit-restricted.

Note on Remote Access:

COBKA Meetings Online

The Beginner’s Corner portion of the meeting is not typically streamed. Depending on the meeting format, the stream may be provided through a mobile phone, camera, or another available setup.

Members interested in helping with meeting support, video streaming, setup, or other volunteer roles can learn more here: https://cobeekeeping.wildapricot.org/volunteers

COBKA August Picnic: Save the Date! (15 Aug 2026)

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

COBKA SUMMER PICNIC

With Matt Allen and Clyde Dildine

COBKA members and their families are invited to this year’s Summer Picnic on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

This year, our traditional public Field Day is taking a break. Instead, COBKA is hosting a more relaxed, members-focused summer gathering with hive inspections, queen-finding practice, family activities, storytelling, and a shared picnic lunch.

Details

Who: COBKA members and their families
Where: Connie and Linda’s place in Utopia
Address: Confirmed with rsvp
Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
RSVP: Coming soon

We are pleased to welcome Matt Allen of Apricot Apiaries as our featured advanced inspection leader. Matt is the founder of Apricot Apiaries in Kimberly, Oregon, where he has built years of hands-on experience managing honey bee colonies for honey production, pollination, nucs, packages, and queen rearing.

Matt will guide the advanced hive inspection group through what to watch for when something in the hive does not look quite right. His session will focus on identifying hive abnormalities, reading colony clues, and strengthening inspection skills beyond the basics.

Matt will also lead a queen-finding session, sharing practical tricks of the trade for locating the queen. Members will have time to practice queen finding during the event.

Clyde Dildine will lead the beginner hive inspection group. Clyde is a longtime mentor, and beekeeping educator. A past COBKA president and lead Oregon Master Beekeeper Apprentice instructor, Clyde has spent years helping Central Oregon beekeepers gain confidence through practical, hands-on learning.

Clyde will demonstrate proper hive inspection procedures and help newer beekeepers understand what is normal to see inside a healthy hive. This is a strong fit for members who are still building confidence with inspections, brood patterns, colony behavior, and basic hive observations.

Schedule

10:00 a.m. - Arrive and settle in

10:30–11:30 a.m. - Hive inspections

Advanced inspection with Matt Allen
Beginner inspection with Clyde Dildine

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. - Queen finding, crafts, and bee family tree activity

12:30–1:30 p.m. - Picnic lunch and bee storytelling

1:30–2:00 p.m. - Wrap-up and informal visiting

Family Activities

Crafts

Family-friendly craft activities will include:

Creating a buzzing bee with popsicle sticks
Making your own lip balm

Bee Family Tree

Who influenced your beekeeping journey? Who have you influenced? How many times do our paths cross?

The bee family tree activity will help us trace the mentors, students, friendships, and shared learning that connect COBKA members.

Storytelling

Bring a funny, memorable, or surprising bee story to share. No need to be a polished storyteller - bee stories tend to do the work themselves.

Picnic Lunch

COBKA will provide a protein and drinks.

Members are asked to bring a side salad and/or dessert to share. Honey-inspired dishes are especially welcome. If you bring a homemade dish, please consider bringing a few copies of the recipe!

About the Venue

Connie and Linda Axelrod are generously hosting this year’s picnic at their beautiful location in Utopia, with Smith Rock as the backdrop. Thank you to Connie and Linda!!

Please Note

This event is for COBKA members and their families. The COBKA public Field Day is taking a break this year and will not be held as a public event.

COAREC Saturday in the Apiary - Save the Date (12 Sep 2026)

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 07:00:00 GMT

COAREC Saturday in the Apiary

Saturday in the Apiary is a casual, loosely structured learning event held in a relaxed apiary setting. Participants take part in hive inspections, discuss seasonal colony management strategies, and help implement them.

Everyone who is comfortable being around live honey bees is welcome. Please bring your own protective gear, including a veil and gloves. A limited number of veils may be available upon request. This is a free event.

Oregon Master Beekeeper Program Credit

Participants in the Oregon Master Beekeeper Program may earn “In the Bees” points for the Getting Started level or Education points for the Apprentice level.

Journey-level participants who would like to help may contact Heike ahead of time and may earn Service points.

Workshop Invitations and RSVP

Monthly workshop invitations, including an RSVP button, will be sent 5–10 days before each workshop to those who have joined the COAREC mailing list: http://eepurl.com/hYtP7T

Each invitation will include an RSVP link for that specific Saturday in the Apiary. Registered participants will receive a follow-up email with additional details.

For more information, contact Heike Williams at heike.williams@oregonstate.edu.

2026 Saturday in the Apiary Dates

July/August: TBD
September 12
October 10
December: TBD

Times may vary. Dates are subject to change.

COAREC Saturday in the Apiary - Save the Date (10 Oct 2026)

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 07:00:00 GMT