SWARM BOOTCAMP

Swarm Bootcamp is a week of living close to the land during the height of bee season.

You’ll stay in my earthen home (in Portland, OR) and move through my real, day-to-day beekeeping life—responding to what the bees and the weather ask for each day.

This is a live-in week long apprenticeship, ideal for folks that wish to deepen their relationship to the hive but do not live locally.

There is no set schedule. Some days are full and fast. Others are quiet and preparatory. We gather swarms when they appear, tend existing hives, and build welcoming homes for bees who have not yet arrived.

You’ll learn by doing—lifting boxes, preparing equipment, driving to calls, waiting when waiting is required, and noticing when the moment is right. Come prepared to get your hands dirty!

This is an apprenticeship shaped by season, not structure.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  • One week stay (minimum 4 days of intensive, one-on-one shadowing)

  • We’ll open our week with a bee oracle session, where we will greet the bees energetically first and set the tone for our time together.

  • gift bag (propolis oil, incense, swarm lure + a beeswax candle)

  • private room + bath

  • Breakfast and lunch supplies are provided so meals can remain simple and flexible with the rhythm of the day.

  • shuttle to and from airport

Accomodations

You’ll be staying in a hand-built cob house, shaped from the very earth of the garden itself. Thick earthen walls create a quiet, grounded place to rest between full days in the field.

Mornings begin in the bee garden, coffee in hand, surrounded by spring bloom and birdsong, with four thriving beehives nearby—each housed in a different bee-centric design.

You’ll have a private bedroom and your own bathroom, including a bathtub beneath a skylight. A sauna is also available for warmth and recovery. The kitchen and living areas are shared.

Airport transportation is included for ease of arrival and departure. If you would like to adventure into the city or surrounding areas during your stay, renting a car is recommended as we are not in a walkable area.

Available Sessions

There are 4 different available session times to choose from during swarm season 2026. offered first come first serve.

  • April 16– April 22

  • May 2– May 8

  • May 16– May 22

  • June 2– June 8

Apply Here

PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

E-MAIL TO INQUIRE.

  • In 2025 I spent the year as a formal student of Onyx and the bees, through her Portland-based Regenerative Beekeeping Cohort, and feel immeasurably grateful to have learned so much directly from them both. We spent immersion days learning about all the medicine of the hive: from honey to wax to venom and propolis to comb and more. Onyx's approach to beekeeping is rooted in reverent ecological stewardship, heart-centered tending, and feral honeybee wisdom. Her world view is shaped by the magic of hives and a long lineage of spiritual female beekeepers - centering interconnection and relational well-being. Her approach to listening and caring for the bees was exactly what my animist, earth loving heart needed, and has informed greatly the way in which I feel connected to and a part of the natural world around me. Onyx's devotion to the planetary health of all living beings is so strong, and her committment to educating others on regenerative, sustainable ways of nurturing bees is so inspiring. She's actively swimming against the massive current of dominant culture commercial beekeeping practices...that if you've read any of the stats/science/news, are clearly not working anymore. I couldn't recommend her work enough!

    Ali Goodman (2025 Cohort alumni)

  • By the time I met Onyx, I'd dreamed of tending bees for nearly a decade. I had taken various classes and workshops, but always left them feeling overwhelmed and like something was missing. It wasn't until I met Onyx and joined her mentorship that everything clicked... I learned of a better way to be with the bees, one that felt in greater alignment with myself, the earth, and most importantly, the bees themselves. Being in community with Onyx and the other women in my cohort made space for more than just bees, it created space for friendship, joy, heartbreak, wonder, grief, and especially hope. Hope for a better world for us and them. Onyx guides with a steadiness that is honest, bold, tender, and funny. She'll make you feel welcomed, supported, and like you're doing exactly enough. I'm eternally grateful to have found a friend and mentor in Onyx and am honored to finally tend bees alongside her.

    Angela Grey (2025 Cohort alumni)

  • Being part of Onyx's bee mentorship was a truly wonderful and transformative experience. I came in curious to learn, and left feeling truly connected to the bees in a way I didn't know was possible. Onyx holds so much deep knowledge and wisdom, and the way she weaves the spiritual, the ecological, and the practical together is really special. We had a really lovely group and I loved gathering in person, tasting sweet honey, meditating with hives, meeting queens, and learning about propolis, wax, and all the medicines and magic of the hive. I welcomed a swarm into my very first hive, learned what to plant in my garden to support them, and how to create a safe, loving, environment where the bees (native bes too!) can thrive. I'm deeply grateful for this experience, and it has changed the way I move through my garden, my days, and my relationship with the natural world. I wholeheartedly recommend this mentorship to anyone who feels even a spark of curiosity about bees, connection, or becoming friends with these wild and wonderful beings.

    Elana Gabrielle (2025 Cohort alumni)

  • "I can't speak highly enough about the support Onyx provides to early bee conservationists. I had a heartbreaking start with a few lost hives, but Onyx was consistently available, grounded, and thoughtful throughout. She offered clear direction and a much-needed sense of trust and calm. What stands out most is how truly bee-centric her approach is- she is always considering the bees in the wider ecological context, from native pollinators to the surrounding plants and habitat they rely on. Despite her deep expertise, she approaches every hive and every question with curiosity, as though she's learning right alongside you. Being a part of a cohort of new beekeepers created a powerful sense of connection - both with each other and the bees. Sitting at the hive just to listen has become an essential practice, and Onyx makes it easy to slow down in a world that resists slowing. Whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your skills, this program is truly excpetional. I'm grateful to continue growing on a path tended by so many wise women before me."

    Sarah Jo Ward (2025 Cohort alumni)

  • "Onyx was my first inspiration and teacher in bee keeping. I took her online class and participated in a one-on-one mentorship by phone with her, as I don't live in Oregon. I knew I wanted to learn from someone heart centered who brought that perspective to bee keeping and I am thankful to have learned so much from her. She helped me feel confident with bee keeping and coached me through my first year with the bees. I can only imagine how even more wonderful, rich and practical it would be to work with her in person, alongside a small group of like-minded people. She cares deeply about the bees and finding how to be in a symbiotic relationship with them. She has a wealth of resources and is happy to share with those who want to learn"

    Sarah Martins (2024, virtual mentorship)

  • "In 2021 my husband signed up for a beekeeping mentorship with Onyx. I never planned to be a part of it but from our first meeting I was hooked. I absolutely love Onyx's approach to beekeeping - a wholesome sustainable approach to caring for living beings that just happen to be small. Through her mentorship we learned practical things like the best kind of hives to use, how to care for the bees through the winter months, how and when to harvest honey in a sustainable way, where to position our hives on our property, and how to capture and home a swarm. We also learned about the properties of wax, honey, and propolis, and how to communicate with our bees. Our education is ongoing and Onyx has been the best teacher. I cannot recommend a better person to teach you the ways of sustainable beekeeping."

    Briana Morrison (2023 one-on-one mentorship)