Johnston Community Education

Course Description Create THREE handmade gifts using local beeswax, including lip balm, wood conditioner, and a beeswax wrap. Learn to make wax pellets and take home recipes. BUZZ on in—it's sure to bee a sweet time! Closed-toe shoes required; take-home items may vary based on supply availability. Winter/Spring 2026 Dates: Sat, Jan. 17 (Cabin-Fever Buster - Learn something new!) Sat, Feb 14 (Valentine's Day Gift!) (DATE CHANGE! This class was originally scheduled on Feb 7 but changed to Feb 14.) Sat, March 21 (Easter Gift!) Sat, April 25 (Mother's Day Gift!) Logistics All materials provided! Instructor Julia McGuire Julia McGuire helps beginning beekeepers master basic skills and advanced beekeepers learn niche topics. She's kept bees in central Iowa since 2011 with a high rate of winter survival, has experience in filing ELAP due to tornado loss, and has recently taught beekeeping through the Farmer-to-Farmer program to rural populations in Jamaica and Honduras.

Course Description This class explores practical strategies for saving for children’s college expenses. Participants gain valuable insights into how early and intentional planning can set their children up for long-term success. The course highlights essential considerations (including 529 accounts), helps families avoid common mistakes, and offers guidance on supporting children as they build a financial foundation after graduation. Logistics Park and enter on the EAST side of the District Office, Door #7 Instructor: Nathan Nicolaisen, CFP Nathan Nicolaisen is the owner and financial planner at Redspire Wealth Management, LLC in West Des Moines. Nathan is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. The firm works with clients on their financial planning and investment management needs. Redspire Wealth Management

Course Description This class explores practical strategies for saving for children’s college expenses. Participants gain valuable insights into how early and intentional planning can set their children up for long-term success. The course highlights essential considerations (including 529 accounts), helps families avoid common mistakes, and offers guidance on supporting children as they build a financial foundation after graduation. Logistics Park and enter on the EAST side of the District Office, Door #7 Instructor: Nathan Nicolaisen, CFP Nathan Nicolaisen is the owner and financial planner at Redspire Wealth Management, LLC in West Des Moines. Nathan is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. The firm works with clients on their financial planning and investment management needs. Redspire Wealth Management

Course Description This class is for beekeepers with some experience. Topics are continually updated to include latest research on best practices and include fall mites, disease management, winter nutrition, evaluation, fall feeding, winter protection, emergency winter and spring feeding, and if there is time, a brief preview of Beekeeping 201, swarm management, spring flow, "supering", and making splits. After the 4 Winter Beekeeping pre-scheduled class dates, Julia will work with the class to schedule a hive inspection. Date, time, and location to be determined with class input. Logistics Instructor notes available for purchase (optional) Instructor: Julia McGuire Julia McGuire helps beginning beekeepers master basic skills and advanced beekeepers learn niche topics. She's kept bees in central Iowa since 2011 with a high rate of winter survival, has experience in filing ELAP due to tornado loss, and has recently taught beekeeping through the Farmer-to-Farmer program to rural populations in Jamaica and Honduras.

Winter Beekeeping Notes: If you would like to purchase the presentation content delivered by our Beekeeping instructor, this is your option to do that. The presentation slides will be emailed to you 48 hours prior to the start of the Beekeeping class by Johnston Community Education. The presentation consists of approximately 75 PowerPoint slides. You will receive the file in a fillable-PDF format so that you have the option to print the notes and bring them with you OR bring a laptop to class and take notes right on the slides. This presentation was created by our instructor, Julia McGuire, for the Beekeeping class. She hopes that the notes will be a great resource for participants after the class ends, but also requests that you not share the notes with others who have not taken the class.