PORTLAND/FALMOUTH — The University of Maine Cooperative Extension in Cumberland County will offer two beekeeping courses this winter. The two courses are designed for two different audiences: beginner level beekeepers and intermediate level beekeepers.

The beginner beekeeping course involves five sessions and will be taught by two experienced beekeepers, Geoff MacLean and Jack Hildreth. The beginner course will be offered on consecutive Wednesday evenings starting Jan. 18 in Portland. The fee is $80 per person and covers the cost of the textbook, a bee disease publication and the beekeepers reference notebook.

The intermediate level beekeeping course will be taught by master beekeeper, Erin Forbes and is scheduled for six consecutive Monday evenings starting Feb. 6, and will be held at the University of Maine Regional Learning Center/Extension Office in Falmouth. The fee is $130 per person.

For more information, visit umaine.edu/cumberland/programs/2012-beekeeping-courses. To request a registration form or to register over the phone with a credit card, call the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in Cumberland County at 781-6099 or 1-800-287-1471.