We have multiple classes lined-up, many grants received, several grants submitted, and several to write in the coming weeks. Two part-time contract employees, Tom Wicks and Heidi Jeub, are helping to grow and deepen our organizational capacity. There have been productive and exciting meetings and discussions with potential partner organizations along with new marketing and communication tools in the works.

May 17 – 23, 2021 (6 full days & 1 half day)

Grindbygg is a unique Norwegian vernacular timber frame building style. It’s unique joinery harkens back to the early days of post construction before the common usage of mortise and tenon joinery. The specific grindbygg design and joinery was first seen in the late 1400’s. The indicative feature is the necked tying joint where the post, tie beam and plate all come together. The series of slots, laps and notches are held tightly in place by the force of gravity on the roof. Until the early 20th century, Grindbygg frames were common in western Norway as unheated out buildings: barns, boathouses and storehouses. There is renewed interest in preserving this building technique and now there are numerous builders in Norway constructing Grindbygg frames, mostly for out buildings and carports.

We are excited to have received a Creative Support for Arts Organizations Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.

This is the first grant from the state arts board we have received and are looking forward to putting it to good use.

Dear Friends of Avon Hills Folk School,

Due to the contributions of many 2019 was a good year. Thank you!

It was a year of important firsts for the Avon Hills Folk School that contributed to continued growth and momentum.

We began the year with a successful 2018 Year End appeal that raised money to go towards a new evaporator for the Maple Syrup operation – this got us about half-way to our goal.

We are in the darkest days of the year, yet within days we will begin our slow climb to longer days. Before we know it we’ll be getting ready for the 2021 Maple Syrup season and looking forward to welcoming people back to the Folk School.

2020 was a bust in terms of holding classes and inviting people back to the Avon Hills Folk School. But, we did take advantage of the pause and made great strides towards the future. With the help of many we focused on several key, foundational pieces critical to our future growth.

Thank you for making the 2020 Bouja a huge success! Even though it looked a bit different this year due to COVID-19, we had a wonderful day and enjoyed seeing so many of you.

A big thank you to everyone who came out, we hope you enjoyed the Bouja you brought home with you. It was an incredible day with incredible people in the splendor of the fall colors.

Can’t wait for next year!

Bouja-COVID-19 Update: Due to a recent spike in cases of COVID-19 in MN we are changing this year’s Bouja to a Take-Out only. No food will be served during the day to be eaten on site. You may stop by from 1-5pm, we’ll have containers, about 1/2 gallon size. No charge for the bouja, but a free-will offering will be accepted as a donation to the Avon Hills Folk School. Also feel free to walk the trails, visit the creek, see the progress on the Sugar Shack, etc. The weather looks to be great for a walk in the woods. (Updated 10/3/2020)

Well, after many weeks of thinking and strategizing and being hopeful we in fact have made the difficult decision to cancel Hand Camp for 2020.

While we are sad and disappointed we will not be holding our 5th annual Hand Camp, we know it’s the right thing to do. Our heart told us one thing and our head another. For everyone’s safety and frankly for our sanity we made the call.

Okay, only one virus. But what a virus, one who’s name we all know by now and has upset most all of our lives in ways we may not have been prepared to experience. At the Avon Hills Folk School it has put the brakes on plans for any classes or courses or experiences within the next 90 days. At least.

We’re excited to announce an Advanced Leather Working class by Dan Horan of Merchant Leather hosted by Milk and Honey Ciders.

Milk and Honey Ciders is situated between St. John’s University and St. Joseph, MN on the eastern flanks of the Avon Hills. It will be the perfect place and time to gather for some fun in the depths of winter. The class size is limited to 12 participants to ensure individualized attention and a positive experience.

This workshop was full of firsts. It was the first time almost all the participants had been to the Avon Hills Folk School. It was the first time Gaylord Schanilec and I had conducted a workshop together. And it was the first time we had tried to condense what we’d done over five years in working on My Mighty Journey into a two-day workshop. Despite all of these firsts, we were amazed how much the group of participants accomplished and how well they bonded together in such a short time. They all found objects in the woods that they made prints from. They all chose words directly connected to a specific place. And they all worked industriously to produce a book of images and text that they took home as a tangible object from this memorable weekend.

Over 40 people (our largest year by far!) gathered for a weekend at the Avon Hills Folk School to learn new artistic skills, explore the hills, walk along Spunk Brook, reunite with friends from last year, and to make new friendships.

The weather kept us on our toes with over an inch of rain on Saturday. This followed the seven inches of rain we had received in the Avon Hills over the previous week. With two new tents, the space in the Shed, and Dan the Leather Man at his usual space in the timber framed Sugar Shack the rain didn’t dampen any of the classes or spirit of the students and instructors.

Join us at the Avon Hills Folk School for the 4th Annual Hand Camp September 20 – 22, 2019. Another line-up of great classes and instructors are on tap for this year’s Hand Camp.

A crown jewel of the property where the Avon Hills Folk School resides is Spunk Creek. For nearly a half mile the creek meanders through our corner of the Avon Hills. Over and through the rocks of the glacial till left by the glaciers of the last ice age.

As a child (and an adult-child) some of my fondest memories involve Spunk Creek, or as we call it ‘the creek’. Invariably you need to cross the creek, or find a reason to cross the creek. It does not need to be a good reason because as the saying goes, “it’s the journey, not the destination.’ So goes the crossing of the creek. We cross the creek to cross it – not necessarily to get to the other side.

Avon Hills Folk School received a $7,000 Project Grant from Central MN Arts Board to expand the outreach and class offerings for Hand Camp 2019, held September 20-22, 2019, Avon, MN. Funding for these CMAB Grants is provided through an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the state’s general fund, and its Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund created by the Voters of Minnesota.

“It is a happy talent to know how to play.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

We’re not sure if Francis Schellinger ever read any Emerson, chances are that he did since he was an avid reader with a wide ranging interest. But what we do know is that Francis knew how to have fun – to play! He was known for appreciating the “event of it all”. In today’s business parlance it would be said his activities were “vertically integrated.”.

It’s Official!

Avon Hills Folk School is a certified 501c3 Non-profit organization in the eyes of the IRS!

We just received official response via US Mail last week letting us know that we are now a full-fledged non-profit.

Hand Camp far exceeded our expectations! Thanks to Kate, Chris and the Schellinger family for putting together a wonderful weekend.

This was our second event at the Avon Hills Folk School. The setting is bucolic: rolling wooded hills, burbling creek, crackling bonfires, chickens and a couple of roosters for background sound and entertainment. We took classes in spoon carving and leatherworking. The instructors were knowledgable, patient and helpful. We learned fun new skills and were pleased with the spoons, bags, wallets and belts we made. A delicious breakfast included maple syrup from the very maple trees that surrounded us, and for dinner we each made our own pizzas (complete with sautéed hen-of-the-woods and chanterelle mushrooms foraged from the property) and baked them in the 800-degree brick oven we had built at our first class earlier in the summer.

Join us at the Avon Hills Folk School for the 3rd Annual Hand Camp September 21st-23rd, 2018.

Campers (no extra fee) will arrive at the 64 acres of hills, woods and stream on Friday late afternoon/evening. Take a stroll around the property and explore the woods, stream and settle in. We will also have a meet and greet around the fire when everyone is settled in. Food is on your own Friday evening.

Our first Basic Timber Framing Class in April filled up! So we were able to add a second class August 17-19. Class begins Friday, August 17th at 3pm. On the 18th and 19th class will being around 8 or 9am and finish by around 5pm.

Clark Bremer, experienced Timber Framer and instructor will teach you the history of timber framing and provide you with a working knowledge of the basics. You’ll learn to plan, layout and cut the necessary joinery for a traditional timber frame as you work with others to construct and raise half of a small frame during the class.