Reading resident Charlie Donnelly Moran leads the Essex County Beekeepers’ Association Bee School, a nine-week course for new beekeepers held at the Topsfield Fairgrounds and online
Charlie Donnelly Moran, a long-time Reading resident and Chair of the Essex County Beekeepers’ Association (ECBA) annual Bee School, announced the opening of registration for Bee School from January 6 to 27.
The ECBA’s Bee School is a nine-week course for beginner beekeepers and those interested in honeybees. Classes are held weekly on Tuesday evenings from 7 – 9 PM, from February 17 to April 14, 2026. Students may register to attend classes online or in person at the Topsfield Fairgrounds.
Bee School provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully keep honeybees and produce honey and beeswax. No previous knowledge or experience is required. All instructors are long-time local beekeepers.
Charlie Donnelly Moran attended Bee School a dozen years ago with his wife, Margaret. For the past nine years, he’s volunteered during the Topsfield Fair, sharing his knowledge of bees with hundreds of visitors each year. He was elected to a three-year Bee School leadership position in the fall of 2023. He assumed the position of Chair in the fall of 2025.
Charlie reports, “One of the most highly anticipated lessons each year is a demonstration of installing live bees in a hive. Students are always amazed at how easily beekeepers move thousands of bees and one queen into a new hive”.
Charlie further stated, “A unique feature of the ECBA Bee School is the connection that develops between students and knowledgeable Mentors who can advise students throughout their first year of beekeeping. In addition, other club members are very willing to advise new beekeepers at the club’s monthly meetings”.
Bee School students can choose either in-person or virtual classes. In-person attendance is limited to 65 students at the Beekeeping Building at the Topsfield Fairground on Route 1. Students interested in attending in person should sign up quickly as the maximum capacity is always reached. The parallel online Zoom classes offer students the convenience of asking questions during the live event and the ability to rewatch the class during the following week.
Tuition is $125 per adult, and $90 for youth (12-18 years old), who must have an accompanying adult registration. Tuition includes a textbook and an ECBA membership for 2026.
More information, including class syllabus, Frequently Asked Questions, and a link to registration, is available at https://tinyurl.com/bee-school. The deadline to register is January 27, 2026.
The Essex County Beekeepers’ Association (ECBA) is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1923 by local beekeepers interested in sharing their experiences. The ECBA presents one of the largest honey shows in New England every October at the Topsfield Fair.
