June 2022 Newsletter
Anyone who has ever taken a class at a folk school comes away from that experience with new or improved skills, knowledge, abilities and a boost in their creative confidence. What they didn’t expect was the very real sense of community that builds among the students, instructor(s) and staff over those days.
Those of us steeped in the folk school tradition know deeply that the opportunity to discover, learn and create is in the end a “delivery vehicle” for building community.
In this month’s newsletter Bob F. shares with us his experience of what we like to describe at the Avon Hills Folk School as “creating the opportunity for community to happen”. Or in Bob’s case- Camaraderie - which I would argue is a foundational building block for Community. With a capital C.
Timber Framing Basics: Camaraderie with a capital C
When I finished the Timber Framing Class at Avon Hills Folk School, the instructor, Clark, asked what part of it made the biggest impression on me. I hesitated. As Inigo Montoya once said, “Let me explain…No, there is too much. Let me sum up.”
A lot happened over the five days of classes. We were there working for 8 hours a day, so we did a full week of work, and by the end I felt both strong and tired.
If I had to sum up the week, I would have to settle on the word Camaraderie with a capital C. The nature of the work and the characters of the eight people on the team created an environment that was rare. It was more than teamwork. It was more than friendship. It was more than collaboration.
Years ago, when I was in a rough patch of my life, I wrote “helplessness is not the feeling of being helpless, it’s the inability to ask others for help.” I think that’s still true.
At the risk of making a generalization about guys, I don’t think most men are comfortable asking for help. I know I am not.
There is no room for that in timber framing. Almost every aspect of the project required that we ask each other for help constantly throughout each day. I mean, I couldn’t even tip my beam to one side or another without help from one or more of the crew. It was 18 feet long, 10 inches thick and 10 inches wide, and it took about five guys to get it up on my sawhorses. Asking for help became a habit by necessity.
As a woodworker who spends a lot of time alone in my shop, this “asking for help” was jarring. Day One, I didn’t want to do it. Day Two I started to get it–I couldn’t accomplish much, let alone do the work on my beam, without asking for help (a lot of help). Day Three, while my old body was telling me I was crazy, my heart and brain were on board with the whole “ask for help” and feeling really good about it. It was like some part of my awareness woke up.
TimberNook will begin at the Avon Hills Folk School this month!
At the heart of TimberNook programming is the philosophy that children flourish when given the time and space to play in sensory-rich, experiential learning environments. Bringing exploration and nature together results in a truly unique way to reach children at a key point in their development.
Our first TimberNook Event theme is: Storybook
One of the most popular programs, young children “live and breathe” stories out in the wild. With the turn of each day, comes a new story and adventure for the children to recreate with friends!
We will welcome children ages 4-8 on Jun 13 - Jun 15 to learn, play, and adventure. The classes will take place from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Avon Hills Folk School.
Register for our upcoming classes below!
With the launch of our TimberNook programming at the Avon Hills Folk School June 13-15th, we’ve invited TimberNook founder, Angela Hanscom, to give a presentation to our community.
Join us on June 14th from 6:00-7:30pm at the Weber Center on the campus of Saint John’s Preparatory School to hear from Angela, learn about TimberNook, the Avon Hills Folk School and participate in a Q&A session.
Angela J. Hanscom is a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of TimberNook—an award-winning developmental and nature-based program that has gained international popularity. She is the author of Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children. Hanscom is also a frequent contributor to The Washington Post and in 2019 won a Small Business of the year award for the State of New Hampshire.
As we continue to decrease children’s time and space to move and play outdoors, we are seeing a simultaneous rise in the number of children that are presenting with sensory and motor deficits. At the same time, classroom teachers are observing more and more children having trouble with attention, falling out of their seats in school, increased clumsiness, and even aggressiveness with games like tag on the playground.
So, how can we reverse this alarming trend of sensory and motor issues in children? How can we ensure that children are fully engaging their body, mind, and all of their senses?
Using the same philosophy that lies at the heart of her popular TimberNook program—that nature is the ultimate sensory experience, and that psychological and physical health improves for children when they spend time outside on a regular basis—Angela Hanscom offers several strategies to help children thrive in outdoor environments using a therapeutic approach to nature play.
We are seeking TimberNook staff members!
The TimberNook curriculum utilizes the pedagogy of play to promote deep and meaningful learning in students and supports development of the whole child.
Does this align with your goals and thinking for child development?
We are looking for eight (8) motivated and engaged adults to help us bring TimberNook to the children of central Minnesota.
To learn more about TimberNook go to:
To contact us for more information or to let us know you're interested in joining our TimberNook Team:
email us: avonhillsfolkschool@gmail.com
Call Chris @: 320.492.1444
Upcoming Classes and Experiences
Being in the Woods: Practices to Help you Ground and Grow with Betsy Johnson - June 4
TimberNook Experience (Ages 4-8) - June 13 - 15
Youth Arts and Makers Camp - July 19 - 21
Hand Camp - September 16 - 18
Upcoming Classes with Dates to Be Determined
Mushroom Foraging in the Avon Hills
