Fall 2024 Newsletter
Reflecting on Summer, looking ahead to fall from Chris Schellinger, Founder and Executive Director
Last week a friend asked me a question I often receive, “How’s it going (at the folk school)?”
I responded, “I don’t know about you, but there have been times in my life (our life) where the gas tank was empty but we could only afford to put $10 in the tank …. Often leaving us well below half-full. But just enough to keep going. If only for a short time. And then, well, we’ll figure it out.”
“Yup, I’ve had to do that.”, he reflected.
This spring and summer has been one of incredible growth for the Avon Hills Folk School. We were presented with many new and unplanned opportunities to grow our programming, create new relationships and ultimately build and enrich the communities in which we all live.
At the close of 2023 we set some goals for growth this year and we have either met those goals or are on our way to meeting them.
We hoped to grow from 26 adult courses offered in 2023 to 55 in 2024. We currently have 55 courses already held or scheduled in 2024!
Total adults and youth (under 18) who have had a meaningful experience at the Avon Hills Folk school through June 30th was 973. Our goal for 2024 was 1,200 and we will certainly exceed that.
Instructors
By the end of 2024 we will have had at least 38 instructors teach at the folk school, likely more. In all of 2023 we had 13 instructors.
Of the 38 total instructors that have or will teach at the Avon Hills Folk School this year (as of early August) 24 of them are new to the folk school! This is incredibly important as our ability to grow is largely dependent upon our attracting new and talented instructors.
Youth Programming
We have had numerous groups reach out with inquiries and requests. This has led to youth joining us for field trips and other visits to the folk school. This has challenged us to grow in a number of ways. For one, the size of some groups, 40 or more kids at one time - and 88 in another case! We need to arrive at programming that meets the needs of these groups while staying true to the purpose of the folk school.
(Reach out at info@avonhillsfolkschool.org if you’re interested in scheduling a field trip!)
Reaching back
We are excited to welcome back April Stone, Ojibwe from the Bad River Tribe of northern Wisconsin and member of the Bear Clan. April, the last black ash basket weaver in her tribe, shares with us the cultural significance of her art form, tying us in a small way to the people who inhabited the Avon Hills many years ago. She returns the last week of September for artists talks, presentations, and workshops. Don’t miss this great opportunity! Learn more below.
Reaching forward
An unexpected opportunity came to us when Somali Artists Ifrah Manour became our first Artist In Residence at the folk school. Over the month of June, Ifrah constructed a Healing Aqal, a Somali Hut, used by many of the nomadic Somali people in her home country of Somalia.
Each week members of the community joined Ifrah to help forage and gather natural materials and to construct the Aqal. The experience culminated in a great celebration on June 30th with around 200 people coming together to celebrate (and meaningfully contribute to) the completion of the Aqal. Around 75 non-Somali folks and 125 plus members of the Somali communities of St. Joseph, St. Cloud and the great Minneapolis area gathered together to visit the aqal, share stories, eat delicious authentic Somali food (thank you Mama Linn and Fatima) along with singing and dancing.
All the People
Also in June we hosted Timber Framing for FLINTA. A course led by Jenna Pollard and Helen Prufer. FLINTA is an acronym originating from Continental Europe. We very much wanted to create a course and a space that was welcoming and empowering for all folks that identified within these communities of FLINTA.
This course was the product of several years of discussion and planning with Jenna and the Avon Hills Folk School. It is difficult to communicate how special that week was and especially Raising Day for this project.
On Raising Day we had live music, with 6-7 musicians playing throughout the day and into the night around the fire. And, a first for us, over 25 members of the local community heeded the call to come out and help us “raise this frame” together.
It was possibly the most powerful experience I’ve had at the folk school and left me with such a sense of gratitude and hope, excitement for the future.
Jenna and Helen felt the same way it seems, as within a month they had launched a new venture, Against The Grain. We look forward to welcoming them back to the Avon Hills Folk School in June of 2025. Watch for those courses coming in the next few months.
Coming Up!
We are excited for our annual Artist and Makers Camp - a day of sharing traditional practices, craft and art on Saturday, September 21st. Students and instructors have the option to camp over Friday and/or Saturday night. Check it out!
Upcoming courses! There's something for everyone—don't miss out. Sign up today!
Artists and Makers Camp - September 21
Last Chance to Forage Mushrooms with Ariel - September 20 or 22
Black Ash Handbag Basket Weaving - September 26-28
Being in the Woods: Practices to help you ground and grow w/ Betsy Johnson - September 28
Needle Felting a 3D Pumpkin - September 29
Fundamentals of Beekeeping 104 - September 29
Taste of Timber Framing - October 19
Beginner Soapmaking - October 20
Needle Felting a 3D Snowman - November 2
Norwegian Style Colorwork Mittens - November 16
Glass Mosaic Ornaments - November 23
Traditional Ojibwa Style Snowshoes - December 6-8
And of course our annual Bouja party … always the second Saturday of October - the 12th this year!
Join us Saturday, October 12 from 1-5pm at the Avon Hills Folk School for our Annual Avon Hills Community Bouja Party.
Enjoy an old family recipe, walk the trails, cross the creek all while enjoying the fall colors and meeting new and old friends. Please bring a dessert to share for the epic 30 foot long dessert table. We'll provide the bouja, bread, and refreshments. Bouja will be served at about 2 pm.
Instructor Spotlight: April Stone
April Stone, an Ojibwe Black Ash basket maker from the Bad River reservation in northern WI, has been working with black ash since 1998. She spent one year studying a basket in use before attempting to weave her first basket in the spring of 1999 and ended up falling in love with all things connected to this craft including live harvest and log processing of raw material into usable splint for weaving. Since 2000, she has researched and traveled extensively, sharing her skills with young and old.
April harvests all of her raw materials for her own basket making and for various programming from the ceded territory swamps and forests of northern WI. and processes all of this material by hand. She has received much recognition for her working knowledge of Black Ash basketry, while being thought of as a patient and gentle educator.
Join us on September 25 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. For an artist demonstration and talk from April! This event is free and open to all.
You can learn from April at her Black Ash Handbag Basket Weaving Workshop on September 26-28, as well!
