Building and enriching community in the Avon Hills of Central Minnesota
What is a Folk School?
Folk schools, originating in 19th-century Denmark, emphasize hands-on, intergenerational, and non-competitive learning for its own sake. They aim to preserve traditional skills lost to modern efficiency, valuing the satisfaction of craftsmanship and the sense of community it fosters. Folk schools serve as a response to cultural and technological changes, striving to retain creative, hands-on knowledge, while building and enriching our community in the process.
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Upcoming Courses and Events
Leather Workshop: Small Goods & Medium Goods
December 6, 2025
Join us for a hands-on leatherworking experience rooted in tradition and craft. In this half-day session, students complete two small projects or one medium project.
You’ll choose your project or projects when you arrive, working from pre-cut patterns and bringing your project to life through the traditional saddle stitch method of hand sewing. Students will mark, punch, and stitch their projects by hand, with guidance at every step. Along the way, you’ll also make design choices - selecting your leather colors, choosing thread, and adding minor tweaks that make your project uniquely yours.
"The entire feeling of Avon Hills Folk School is inspiring and it's hard not to feel creative and energized while taking classes there."
Kind Words.
“The location is beautiful. The woods feel like home to me. It is far enough away from The Cities that it feels like a getaway, and I can experience more nature and dark skies than I can at home, but it is close enough that it doesn’t take long to get there.”
"Instructors were great. The environment was casual and very comfortable. Participants were engaged and very friendly."