2024 Winter Newsletter
Strange times indeed!
2024 began with a first for us at the Avon Hills Folk School- sap flowing in the sugar bush in January!
Never before have we had an actual “run” of the maple sap before late February. We collected 2,080 gallons of sap in February ... a month when we would normally "just" be tapping the trees in anticipation of the March/April sap runs! Come on out and check it out!
When was the last time you did something for the first time?
Exciting year ahead!
We have over 20 adult courses already scheduled with another 20 or so in the works, all leading up to our goal of 50 or more this year. Several courses are already sold out and we have a number of days where three separate courses are happening at the same time.
TimberNook, one of our youth programs at the Avon Hills Folk School enters its third year and we are excited for more growth of this popular program. Additional youth experiences will be added throughout the year.
Plans are being finalized for construction of our large, wood fired masonry oven at the folk school. Watch for this course to be posted soon and happening in late July. Students will have the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of masonry oven construction. This course will be followed shortly by an Intro to Timber Framing that will build the frame to cover the oven. Exciting to continue to add to the infrastructure of the campus.
Meeting amazing people
I recently completed a short trip to connect with five instructors. Some we hope to bring back to the folk school in 2024 and others we hope to engage to lead a course here for the very first time. This is one of the most satisfying parts of my role with the Avon Hills Folk School. On behalf of the school I get to meet and engage with folks who are deeply passionate about what they do. Finding people who have discovered their Why and have made the commitment to share that with others is tremendously rewarding.
But that’s only the beginning.
Hopefully each of you reading this will be able to experience what it is like to participate in a course led by one of these talented and passionate people. I get to observe this, having a front row seat to the magic that happens as a result of the patience and commitment to excellence these instructors bring to their courses.
The result? Students leave with a level of confidence they didn’t know they had, sense of accomplishment, pride, and friendships and community that didn’t exist prior to the course.
I often say that all folk schools could share the same mission, to build and enrich community through the teaching and sharing of traditional skills, craft and art. Our instructors create an environment and space for this to happen.
Please come for a visit this year- whether taking a course, attending an event, volunteering or just reaching out to see if you can stop by. We look forward to welcoming you.
With gratitude,
Chris Schellinger (he/him), Founder and Executive Director
2024 Workshop Series
Wanting to show off our newly (almost) finished workshop and bring folks out to the folk school we began the 2024 Workshop Series. Join us on the last Wednesday of every month from 7:30-9:30 am for coffee and conversation. Each session will have an interesting speaker or demonstration and/or a make and take experience for everyone in attendance.
February 28, we featured Zach Fritz, our newest member of the folk school team. Zach shared his many experiences canoeing the wilds of Canada, from waters of the Quetico all the way to above the Arctic Circle. Zach talked about his upcoming canoe trip beginning from behind his family's Deer Shack near Big Falls, MN all the way to the Arctic Ocean.
We'll talk all things Maple Syrup on Wednesday, March 27th! Join us then!
TimberNook 2024 Experiences are Live!
During a TimberNook experience kids get to experience unrestricted, child-led, free play in nature. As they explore the woods and creek they grow confidence in the areas of social emotional skills, creative and physical confidence, communication, collaboration and conflict resolution skills. They receive all of this while establishing a life-long appreciation for and relationship with nature.
In our third year offering TimberNook we will provide over 20 different experiences for ages 4 - 7, 8 -12 and our Tiny Ones where parents join their 18 - 36 month old child.
Permit us to share a testimonial from one of last year’s TimberNook’ers. His grandpa shared that when Caleb came home after the last day of his 3 Day Wild One’s Experience he was wet, dirty, tired and very hungry. His grandpa asked him, “well, how was it?” Caleb answered, “Grandpa, it was the best three days of my life.” Well said Caleb!