Central Ohio Beekeepers Association

We are Beekeepers helping other beekeepers

Next General Meeting Wed. March 18. 7p. Veridian Room @Franklin Park Cons.. Speaker: Arica Hamilton, Frankin Co. Farm Bureau

Bee School Sign-up

COBA Schedule to early May 2026

Fri., Jan 30 VFW Midwinter Conference

Sat., Jan. 31 VFW Midwinter Conference

Mon., Feb. 9 7:00 COBA Board Meeting via Zoom

Wed., Feb. 18 6:30-9 COBA Monthly Meeting, Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St., 43205

Sat., Feb. 21 VBS Interviews

Wed., Feb. 25 6:30-8:30 Section 1 COBA Bee School, Waterman Farm, 2490 Carmack Rd., 43210

Sat., Feb. 28 8-4:30 Marysville Bee School

Wed., Mar. 4 6:30-8:30 Section 1 COBA Bee School, Waterman Farm, 2490 Carmack Rd.,43210

Sat., Mar.7 Tri-County Beekeepers Association Meeting, Wooster

Mon., Mar. 9 7:00 COBA Board Meeting via Zoom

Wed., Mar. 11 6:30-8:30 Section 1 COBA Bee School, Waterman Farm, 2490Carmack Rd., 43210

Sat., Mar. 14 Section 2 COBA Bee School, Liberty Mutual, 518 E. Broad St. 43215

Wed., Mar. 18 6:30-9 COBA Monthly Meeting, Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St., 43205

Wed., Mar. 18 6:30-8:30 Section 1 COBA Bee School, Waterman Farm, 2490 Carmack Rd., 43210

Sat., Mar. 28 9:30-12 Veterans Bee School #1, Kunz-Brundige Extension, 2548 Carmack Rd., 43210

Sun., Mar. 29 10 Easton Apiary, 3850 Stelzer Road, 43219

Wed., Apr 1 6:00 First Year Bee Yard, 2501 Carmack Road, 43210

Thurs., Apr 2 6:30-8:30 ScottsLawn Apiary, 14380 ScottsLawn Rd., 43040

Sat., April 4 9:30-12 Veterans Bee School #2, Kunze-Brundige Extension, 2548 Carmack Rd. 43210

Wed., Apr 8 6 First Year Bee Yard - Organizational: pass out calendars, rules, sign up for Bee Yard, clean shed, inventory shed. Paint hives. Bring brushes.

Thurs., Apr 9 6:30-8:30 ScottsLawn Apiary, 14380 ScdottsLawn Rd., 43040

Sat., Apr 11 9:30-12 Veterans Bee School #3, Kunz-Brundige Extension, 2548 Carmack Rd., 43210

Mon., Apr 13 7:00 COBA Board Meeting via Zoom

Tues., April 14 6 First Year Bee Yard: Check Bees, answer questions, work on area.

Tues., Apr 14 6 Franklin Park Apiary, 1777 E. Broad Street, 43205

Wed., Apr 15 6:30-9 General Meeting. 1777 E. Broad Street, 43205

Thurs., Apr 16 6:30-8:30 ScottsLawn Apiary, Scotts Lawn Road

Sat., Apr. 18 9am Veterans Bee School #4, Franklin Park Conservatory, Viridian Room

Sun., Apr. 19 2:00 - ? First Year Bee Yard - Install bees into hives. Clean up area, trim Mulberry tree, remove Locust sprouts. West of 2501 Carmack Rd., 43210

Wed., Apr 22 6 First Year Bee Yard – First inspection of Hives. Demonstrate inspection, then inspect hives, release Queen if needed, feed. Topic: Hive set-up configurations.

Thurs., Apr 23 6:30 ScottsLawn Apiary

Sat., Apr 25 10 Rich Herman Workshop, Build Frames

Sun., Apr 26 10 Easton Apiary

Tues., Apr 28 6 Franklin Park Apiary, 1777 E. Broad St.

Tues., Apr 28 6 First Year Bee Yard – Inspect hives, feed. Demo inspection. Hive Inspection – what to look for, when to add the next box. Inspect and feed. Topic: Types of Bees, Advantages and Disadvantages.

Wed,. Apr 29 6p Easton Apiary – vets and COBA members, flora and forage discussions

Thurs., Apr 30 6:30 Scotts Lawn Apiary

Sat., May 2 9-11 Pancake Breakfast and Plant Swap, 501 E. Broad Street, 43215 (Broad Street United Methodist Church)

Wed., May 6 6 First Year Bee Yard ~~– I~~nspect hives, feed. Mint Day - Topic: Gale Martin of Natives In Harmony to talk about bee plants. Plants available for sale.

Thurs., May 7 6:30 Scotts Lawn Apiary

Sat., May 9 8 Worthington on the Green, Worthington

Mon., May 11 7 COBA Board meeting via Zoom

Tues. May 12 6 Franklin Park Apiary

Wed., May 13 6 First Year Bee Yard – Inspect hives, feed. Topic: What to expect from

Bee Inspector

Thurs., May 14 6:30 Scotts Lawn Apiary

Sat., May 16 10 Easton Apiary

Tues., May 19 6 First Year Bee Yard

Wed., May 20 6:30-9 General Meeting

Thurs., May 21 6:30 Scotts Lawn Apiary

Tues., May 26 6 Franklin Park Apiary

Wed., May 27 6 First Year Bee Yard – Inspect hives. Topic: Swarming prevention, capturing swarms,

tools to capture

Thurs., May 28 6:30 Scotts Lawn Apiary

Sun., May 31 10 Easton Apiary

honey bees for life

Our Story

Hands-on Learning

Our Story

COBA is a non-profit organization 501 (c)(5) in the State of Ohio and is dedicated to promoting bees and beekeeping in Central Ohio.

We provide educational opportunities throughout the year at our monthly meetings, which are held on the 3rd Wednesday of most months at the Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E Broad St, Columbus, OH. 43205

Education

Hands-on Learning

Our Story

We offer our Bee Schools in February and March (4 consecutive Wednesdays for 2 hours each meeting), or two Saturday classes (8 hours). We give you information about beekeeping, physiology of bees, behavior, health concerns, and other topics to provide information about beekeeping. Call Claudia at 330 353-2315 for more information.

Hands-on Learning

The OSU 1st Year Bee Yard is where new beekeepers are given hands on experience. We install new packages of bees into new equipment and over the summer we inspect the hives. New beekeepers can ask questions of the mentors at the bee yard. Joe Wince coordinates the OSU 1st Year Bee Yard and can be contacted at: 567 242-8958.

Central Ohio Beekeepers Association Annual Campaign

2026 Annual Campaign

The 2025 Central Ohio Beekeepers Charitable Foundation Annual Fundraising Campaign to support the Youth Scholarship program and Veterans’ Beekeeping School raised $6,500.

In 2024 and 2025, The Foundation sponsored 10 Youth and 36 Veterans’ scholarships, thanks to generous donors, like you.

In 2026, COBA will support 10 youth Scholars and 25 Veterans.

Youth Scholarships include: bee school for the student and a parent, a 2-year Family membership, a complete hive and a package of bees, safety equipment, mentoring, making 2 presentations at COBA meetings, and dinner and recognition at the Awards Banquet.

Veterans’ Scholarships include the same equipment and membership, plus Vets-only bee school, 2 years of mentoring, and diverse opportunities for engagement and leadership in the beekeeping community.

Bee-ing part of COBA has made a huge impact on the lives and outlooks of our Scholarship recipients. In addition to learning about beekeeping,

Ø they have made life-long friendships,

Ø won blue ribbons,

Ø bonded with family members in new ways, and

Ø changed their outlook regarding the environment.

You can still help us continue this important work.

Can you send a donation for $100, $50, $25 , or any amount today to support these scholarship programs?

To mail your donation, send a check made payable to Central Ohio Beekeepers Charitable Foundation to:

Ms. Winnie Williams, Treasurer

5672 Payton Way

Columbus OH 43235

All donations are tax-deductible and appreciated. Donors at $100 will receive a bee-utiful premium gift.

For those of you who are able, please consider donating at one of the Sponsor levels: Charter level - $5,000; Treaty level - $2,000; Queen level - $1,000; or Colony level, $500. Our Sponsors will be recognized on the Foundation’s website, brochures, and banner.

The community of COBA is strong and vibrant. With your generous support, The Foundation will reach its goal so that together, we can provide ongoing opportunities for Youth and Military Veterans.

Click Here to Donate

We are Beekeepers helping other beekeepers

COBA Schedule to early May 2026

Complete 2026 Beeyard Schedules

Central Ohio Beekeepers Association Charitable Foundation

honey bees for life

Our Story

Hands-on Learning

Our Story

Education

Hands-on Learning

Our Story

Hands-on Learning

Hands-on Learning

Hands-on Learning