May the 4th be with you at TimberNook’s Star Wars-themed Open House! Join us for an intergalactic adventure like no other as we celebrate this special day with a galaxy of outdoor fun. Young Jedi and rebel scum alike will love our nature-based activities inspired by the Star Wars universe. From building Ewok villages to crafting lightsabers from natural materials, the force will be strong with us! Don’t miss this chance to explore, create, and play in a galaxy far, far away. Register now for our Star Wars Open House and embark on an epic adventure that’s out of this world!

May the 4th be with you at TimberNook’s Star Wars-themed Open House! Join us for an intergalactic adventure like no other as we celebrate this special day with a galaxy of outdoor fun. Young Jedi and rebel scum alike will love our nature-based activities inspired by the Star Wars universe. From building Ewok villages to crafting lightsabers from natural materials, the force will be strong with us! Don’t miss this chance to explore, create, and play in a galaxy far, far away. Register now for our Star Wars Open House and embark on an epic adventure that’s out of this world!

Springtime is the time of migration and the largest variety of full plumage birds are most likely to be encountered.  As we move into late spring / early summer, migrants have moved to their nesting grounds and pair off for the nesting period.  Visual ID becomes much more difficult as the foliage often completely obscures birds, but their habits and audible clues still allow identification and enjoyment.

The Intro to Birding, Spring series will provide students the opportunity to move throughout the folk school property all Saturday mornings during the month of May. We will experience the changes in bird variety and behavior as springtime progresses.

A beginning class covering a good variety of spring edible and medicinal plants  and mushrooms. 

Learn to identify edible plants, experience a directed foray to recognize habitat, and the symbiotic trees where plants and mushrooms thrive.

We will spend the majority of our time looking for specimens. 

Classroom time learning about culinary and medicinal uses. Samples, handouts and a few basic recipes will be included. 

April 27, 2024

1 pm - 5 pm

Course 2 in a four part series: Fundamentals of Beekeeping - Hive Maintenance

This course will take a deeper dive into common challenges throughout the season, going inside your hive and what to expect, the most common pests and diseases beekeepers come into contact with, along with some practices and folklore to help you better understand and connect with the bees you are guardians of. 

Join us for our 2024 Workshop Series on April 24, from 7:30 - 9:30 am!

Minnesota Master Naturalist Jeff Velline will share his newly found birding hobby and the magic he has discovered in his own back yard and beyond.  During the Pandemic, starting with just one persistent chickadee, Jeff discovered his new passion for watching and photographing birds. That one chickadee led to hundreds of birds around the state of Minnesota and ultimately from coast to coast.  Come learn fun and simple birding & amateur photography tips, and how everyday can be an Easter egg hunt for you too!

No registration is necessary!

See you there!

Join us at Milk & Honey Ciders April 21 from 9am-12pm for our First Annual Avon Hills Maple Syrup Tasting, Waffle Feed and Social.

Please ensure that syrup from the Avon Hills is delivered by 10am; a half pint will suffice.

Join us for a special Earth Day celebration at TimberNook’s Open House!

Dive into the wonders of nature with us as we explore the outdoors.  Our nature-based programs encourage creativity, teamwork, and a deep connection to the natural world. From building sustainable structures to creating art with found materials, your child will discover the beauty and importance of our planet. Come experience the magic of TimberNook this Earth Day and help us cultivate a love for nature that lasts a lifetime! Register now for our Open House and let’s celebrate Earth Day together!

Join us for a special Earth Day celebration at TimberNook’s Open House!

Dive into the wonders of nature with us as we explore the outdoors.  Our nature-based programs encourage creativity, teamwork, and a deep connection to the natural world. From building sustainable structures to creating art with found materials, your child will discover the beauty and importance of our planet. Come experience the magic of TimberNook this Earth Day and help us cultivate a love for nature that lasts a lifetime! Register now for our Open House and let’s celebrate Earth Day together!

This engaging class dives into the interesting history of traditional one piece canoe paddles throughout Minnesota and beyond. Learn about the different styles of paddles, their functions before designing and building your own! 

Discover the art of mosaic with artist, Laura Ruprecht. You will create your own Mosaic Mandala wall hanging in this hands-on workshop. We will use hand-cut stained glass and glass tesserae to design a radial pattern on a 10-inch wooden backer. Laura's guidance ensures a unique and captivating result all at a beginner-level pace. Upon completion, you will receive a grout kit to finish your masterpiece at home, blending creativity and personal expression in this concise and immersive mosaic art experience.

April 6, 2024

9a - 12p

Create your own unique bud vases in this fun class. Students will experience the creativity of working with pliable clay slabs which can be stamped or incised with decorative accents. The slabs are then formed into cylinders and finished off with a circular or oval slab for the base.

Gather your family and/or your friends group and join us at the Avon Hills Folk School for the annual rite of going to the woods to make maple syrup and continue the tradition of Sugar Camp begun by the native peoples inhabiting present day Minnesota and Ontario east nearly to the Atlantic Ocean.

You’ll have the opportunity to see our Sugar Bush, experience the woods and water of the Avon Hills as it begins to slowly come alive after a long winter. You can try your hand at tapping some trees, emptying some bags, watching the sap boil and trying some “not quite syrup” out of the pan.

Gather your family and/or your friends group and join us at the Avon Hills Folk School for the annual rite of going to the woods to make maple syrup and continue the tradition of Sugar Camp begun by the native peoples inhabiting present day Minnesota and Ontario east nearly to the Atlantic Ocean.

You’ll have the opportunity to see our Sugar Bush, experience the woods and water of the Avon Hills as it begins to slowly come alive after a long winter. You can try your hand at tapping some trees, emptying some bags, watching the sap boil and trying some “not quite syrup” out of the pan.

Gather your family and/or your friends group and join us at the Avon Hills Folk School for the annual rite of going to the woods to make maple syrup and continue the tradition of Sugar Camp begun by the native peoples inhabiting present day Minnesota and Ontario east nearly to the Atlantic Ocean.

You’ll have the opportunity to see our Sugar Bush, experience the woods and water of the Avon Hills as it begins to slowly come alive after a long winter. You can try your hand at tapping some trees, emptying some bags, watching the sap boil and trying some “not quite syrup” out of the pan.

Join us for Coffee, Craft and Conversation the last Wednesday of each month from 7:30 - 9:30 am. Enjoy speakers, demos, and make-and-take activities starting at 8:30 am. No registration required, drop in anytime between 7:30 - 9:30 am.

Gather your family and/or your friends group and join us at the Avon Hills Folk School for the annual rite of going to the woods to make maple syrup and continue the tradition of Sugar Camp begun by the native peoples inhabiting present day Minnesota and Ontario east nearly to the Atlantic Ocean.

You’ll have the opportunity to see our Sugar Bush, experience the woods and water of the Avon Hills as it begins to slowly come alive after a long winter. You can try your hand at tapping some trees, emptying some bags, watching the sap boil and trying some “not quite syrup” out of the pan.

Gather your family and/or your friends group and join us at the Avon Hills Folk School for the annual rite of going to the woods to make maple syrup and continue the tradition of Sugar Camp begun by the native peoples inhabiting present day Minnesota and Ontario east nearly to the Atlantic Ocean.

You’ll have the opportunity to see our Sugar Bush, experience the woods and water of the Avon Hills as it begins to slowly come alive after a long winter. You can try your hand at tapping some trees, emptying some bags, watching the sap boil and trying some “not quite syrup” out of the pan.

Gather your family and/or your friends group and join us at the Avon Hills Folk School for the annual rite of going to the woods to make maple syrup and continue the tradition of Sugar Camp begun by the native peoples inhabiting present day Minnesota and Ontario east nearly to the Atlantic Ocean.

You’ll have the opportunity to see our Sugar Bush, experience the woods and water of the Avon Hills as it begins to slowly come alive after a long winter. You can try your hand at tapping some trees, emptying some bags, watching the sap boil and trying some “not quite syrup” out of the pan.

Gather your family and/or your friends group and join us at the Avon Hills Folk School for the annual rite of going to the woods to make maple syrup and continue the tradition of Sugar Camp begun by the native peoples inhabiting present day Minnesota and Ontario east nearly to the Atlantic Ocean.

You’ll have the opportunity to see our Sugar Bush, experience the woods and water of the Avon Hills as it begins to slowly come alive after a long winter. You can try your hand at tapping some trees, emptying some bags, watching the sap boil and trying some “not quite syrup” out of the pan.

March 16, 2024

1p-5p

This class will share the fundamentals of beekeeping for those that would like to begin their journey into bee guardianship! 

You will learn the basics including the biology of the honey bee, hive dynamics, what equipment is needed to get started, recommendations on where to buy equipment, different hive styles, placement of hives on the land and the step by step process of setting up your first hive. 

Gather your family and/or your friends group and join us at the Avon Hills Folk School for the annual rite of going to the woods to make maple syrup and continue the tradition of Sugar Camp begun by the native peoples inhabiting present day Minnesota and Ontario east nearly to the Atlantic Ocean.

You’ll have the opportunity to see our Sugar Bush, experience the woods and water of the Avon Hills as it begins to slowly come alive after a long winter. You can try your hand at tapping some trees, emptying some bags, watching the sap boil and trying some “not quite syrup” out of the pan.

Students will expand upon previous felting experience and learn how to create an object with wire armature. You will learn the use of additional needles to create fine details on the mushroom. We will also cover the mounting of the mushroom on wood and then use additional fibers to create a realistic looking base for the mushroom to “grow from”.

Gather your family and/or your friends group and join us at the Avon Hills Folk School for the annual rite of going to the woods to make maple syrup and continue the tradition of Sugar Camp begun by the native peoples inhabiting present day Minnesota and Ontario east nearly to the Atlantic Ocean.

You’ll have the opportunity to see our Sugar Bush, experience the woods and water of the Avon Hills as it begins to slowly come alive after a long winter. You can try your hand at tapping some trees, emptying some bags, watching the sap boil and trying some “not quite syrup” out of the pan.

Gather your family and/or your friends group and join us at the Avon Hills Folk School for the annual rite of going to the woods to make maple syrup and continue the tradition of Sugar Camp begun by the native peoples inhabiting present day Minnesota and Ontario east nearly to the Atlantic Ocean.

You’ll have the opportunity to see our Sugar Bush, experience the woods and water of the Avon Hills as it begins to slowly come alive after a long winter. You can try your hand at tapping some trees, emptying some bags, watching the sap boil and trying some “not quite syrup” out of the pan.

Gather your family and/or your friends group and join us at the Avon Hills Folk School for the annual rite of going to the woods to make maple syrup and continue the tradition of Sugar Camp begun by the native peoples inhabiting present day Minnesota and Ontario east nearly to the Atlantic Ocean.

You’ll have the opportunity to see our Sugar Bush, experience the woods and water of the Avon Hills as it begins to slowly come alive after a long winter. You can try your hand at tapping some trees, emptying some bags, watching the sap boil and trying some “not quite syrup” out of the pan.

March 9, 2024

9 am - 11:30 am

Create your own luminaries in this fun class.  Students will work with pliable clay slabs which can be incised with decorative accents. Then formed into cylinders and finished off with a circular slab for the base.

Time and materials will allow for students to make two luminaries.   Lots of flexibility for design, since we are working with wet clay.

March 2, 2024

1 pm - 5 pm

The savory, meat and vegetable-filled pasty has served as a hearty meal for more than 150 years in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (UP) where the simple but hunger-satisfying meal has become a significant part of the region's cultural identity. “Invented” by Cornish settlers who came to work in the region's iron and copper mines, the hand-held meat pie was an easy meal to transport and eat deep in the mines. 

Today you can find pasties across the UP, buying them singly or by the “cooler full” which could be up to 99 pasties. Also popular across the Iron Range of northern MN, our instructor will share that the UP Pasty is the best. 

In this course you’ll learn a bit more about the history, the “proper” way to make a UP Pasty and you’ll get to prepare your own start to finish. Beginning with the raw materials, making the dough and taking home up to 12 pasties of your own. 

March 2, 2024

8 am - 4 pm

Learn how to transfer an image onto fabric. Once the image is transferred, learn the correct needles to use to attach wool to the fabric, filling in the outlines of the design with colored wool. Students will also blend fibers together to achieve texture and sew into a pillow and fill to create a small throw pillow.